The Shimmy

I guess I'm a different Mitch- don't know a bass player named Gary.

I was born in the Bronx 2/17/50. Not sure what time, but my father used to call me a vampire bat because even as a kid, I was a night owl. Only instead of reading, writing, playing guitar, drawing, or  (internet) surfing, I'd simply cry back then (colic).

I'm told I was upside down before I was born (I like to dive into water feet first, too - to avoid the belly flops), doctor straightened me out but had the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck three times. To this day, I hate wearing a necktie.

My earliest memory of music was my grandmother singing "Sugar in the Morning, Sugar in the Evening.." etc. Later, I heard "Hound Dog," and saw an album in my uncle's room that simply said "Elvis."

Pre-Elvis, there are 8mm films of me being coaxed by my grandmother to do the "shimmy." There's no sound in these films, just a room full of screaming, clapping, hysterical adults and the very confused look on a little kid's face as he did a very jerky, spasmodic impersonation of the King of Rock 'n Roll about 4 years before anyone ever heard of him. I was doing the shimmy, and they filmed me from the head on down.

I have a very vivid memory of what I was thinking- "Hell, I don't know what all the commotion is about, but if they're all so happy I'll keep doing this while I try to figure out what's going on!"

Then again, I have an equally vivid memory- not of trying to come out feet first or the umbilical cord- but the doctor slapping me on the butt, and me thinking "What the hell did I do?..."

What a shock!

I drew cartoons all over the place from age 4 on- in the sand, on paper, at school, in the dark...

In college I drew cartoons on my biology final and decided I wasn't gonna be a doctor, much to my grandmother's, and every single other ancestor's- horror.

In my sixth year, as an art major, I became fascinated by my roommate's guitar. Being a lefty, I turned it upside down and tried playing it flat down on my lap every chance I got when he wasn't around.

That's how I play guitar- horizontal, like a keyboard or slide.

I started playing along with every single Dylan and Beatles record I owned, then started writing my own songs a few years later.

I saw an album in my uncle's room that had the Byrds' Mr. Tambourine Man on it. My uncle pointed out a picture of Dylan on the back cover. I'd heard Peter, Paul, and Mary's Blowin' in the Wind. So I shoplifted the Highway61 album. My shoplifting career ended shortly afterwards when I got caught stealing a Wes Montgomery tape.

I bought Peter, Paul, & Mary's first album, and played it a million times. I always liked them, but that first album in particular, to this day, is hauntingly beautiful, and I think it's probably the best thing they ever did. This Train, Lemon tree- I seemed to favor the tunes where Paul Stookey sang lead (though years later I wasn't too fond of his "Wedding Song"). I always hated John Denver, I must admit- so I was very disappointed in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."

I loved "I Dig Rock 'n Roll Music," though, and have remained a fan ever since- thinking I should at least get the album "In the Wind," as it is probably the one closest to perfection as their first.

A few years ago, shortly before my mother passed away, I was driving her to Boston to see my brother and sister, and she'd complain about each of my album choices for the ride- until I slipped on Peter, Paul, and Mary's first. She fell into silence (unusual), mesmerized. We'd both heard this music before, but I remember feeling amazed how good it still was, how good it always had been. What incredible voices, harmonies, and songs!

Most of my playing has been with bands, doing cover tunes, Classic Rock, though I started with my brother doing just my songs.

Even my songwriting is dependent upon harmonies, though- whether I'm overdubbing on a sound-on-sound reel-to-reel tape recorder (long retired), multitrack cassette, or lately, DAW's. I always loved the Everly Brothers, Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel.

Sounds like you've had a lot of interesting experience, and I wish that I'd made it to Cafe Lena one of those times I knew they had Open Hike Night (see below).

:  )        - Smiley Face