Michael Hedges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Hedges
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Alden Hedges |
| Born | December 31, 1953 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 2, 1997 (aged 43) Mendocino County, California, U.S. |
| Genres | New acoustic, world, new-age |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, flute |
| Years active | 1974–1997 |
| Labels | Windham Hill |
| Associated acts | Michael Manring |
Michael Hedges was an amazing American guitarist and songwriter. He was born on December 31, 1953, and passed away on December 2, 1997. Michael was known for his unique way of playing the acoustic guitar. He used special techniques that made his music sound very different. Much of his work was called "new-age music." After he passed away in a car accident, his album Oracle won a special award called a Grammy.
Contents
Michael Hedges' Early Life
Michael Hedges was born in Sacramento, California. He started his musical journey in Enid, Oklahoma. There, he learned to play both the flute and the guitar.
He went to Phillips University in Enid. He studied classical guitar and how to compose music. His teacher, E. J. Ulrich, was a very important influence on him. Later, Michael studied at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. He used his classical training to play the steel-string acoustic guitar. He also explored electronic music.
While studying, Michael played and sang in bars and restaurants. From 1976 to 1977, he played electric guitar and flute in a band called Lotus Band. After that, he started performing by himself, playing acoustic guitar. In 1980, he planned to move to California to study music at Stanford University.
In 1981, something exciting happened. A music producer named William Ackerman heard Michael play. He was so impressed that he signed Michael to a recording contract. This happened right on a napkin! The contract was with Windham Hill Records.
Michael Hedges' Music and Albums
Michael Hedges released his first two albums with Windham Hill Records. They were called Breakfast in the Field and Aerial Boundaries. He often wrote his songs using special guitar tunings. These were different from the usual way guitars are tuned.
He used many unique ways to play the guitar. For example, he would slap the strings to create special sounds. He also used his right hand to tap notes and his left hand for melodies. Sometimes, he would even tap on the guitar's body to make percussion sounds. He was very careful about how long each sound and silence lasted in his music.
Michael also played different types of guitars. These included the harp guitar, which has extra bass strings. He could play many instruments, like piano, percussion, tin whistle, harmonica, and flute. A bassist named Michael Manring played on almost all of Michael's albums.
Michael wanted to show more than just his instrumental music. He convinced Windham Hill to release Watching My Life Go By in 1985. This album featured his own songs with vocals. He had been performing these songs in his concerts for years. His fourth album, Live on the Double Planet, was recorded during his live concerts in 1986 and 1987.
Michael's musical training was in modern music from the 20th century. He listened to artists like Martin Carthy and the Beatles. But his way of writing music was inspired by famous composers like Igor Stravinsky. He saw himself as a composer who played guitar, not just a guitarist. Because he worked with Windham Hill, his music was often called new-age music.
Michael also toured for a short time with another great guitarist, Leo Kottke. They played solo songs and also performed duets together.
Michael Hedges' Family Life
Michael Hedges was married to a flautist named Mindy Rosenfeld. They later divorced in the late 1980s. Michael had two children, Mischa Aaron Hedges and Jasper Alden Hedges.
Michael Hedges' Passing
Michael Hedges passed away on December 2, 1997. He was driving home from San Francisco International Airport. His car went off a wet cliff that was about 120 feet (37 meters) high. He was found a few days later.
After his death, his album Oracle won a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 1997. His last unfinished recordings were later completed by his manager and friends. This music was released on the album Torched.
Guitars Michael Hedges Used
Michael Hedges used several different guitars during his career:
- A 1971 Martin D-28 guitar, which he called "Barbara."
- A custom-made steel string guitar from Ken DuBourg (1978).
- A custom Takamine guitar from the 1980s that had his name on it.
- Lowden L-25 guitars.
- Martin J-65M guitars.
- A 1920s Dyer harp guitar.
- A Steve Klein electric harp guitar.
- A black Knutsen harp guitar from around 1913.
- A custom acoustic guitar from Ervin Somogyi.
Michael Hedges' Albums
- Breakfast in the Field (Windham Hill, 1981)
- Aerial Boundaries (Windham Hill, 1984)
- Watching My Life Go By (Open Air, 1985)
- Santabear's First Christmas (1986)
- Live on the Double Planet (Windham Hill, 1987)
- Taproot (Windham Hill, 1990)
- Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin (1993)
- The Road to Return (High Street, 1994)
- Oracle (Windham Hill, 1996)
- Torched (Windham Hill, 1999)
Images for kids
-
Michael Hedges Blvd., on the Northern Oklahoma College (former Phillips University) campus in Enid, Oklahoma.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Hedges para niños
- List of ambient music artists
