Dave Michaels
Encyclopedia
David Miotke is an American
keyboard player and singer, who under the name Dave Michaels was best known as co-founder of the '60s acid rock
band H. P. Lovecraft
.
Miotke studied at Northwestern University
, earning a bachelor's degree in music theory and composition, and a master's degree in applied piano. While an undergraduate in 1967, and performing under the name Dave Michaels, he joined folk singer George Edwards
in forming the band H. P. Lovecraft. They released two albums, H. P. Lovecraft
and H. P. Lovecraft II
, which were both characterised by Edwards and Michaels' striking vocal harmonies
and by Michaels' multi-instrumental skills. Michaels departed from the band in September 1968 to return to his studies.
He graduated with honors, and continued to work as a musician, singing, playing and arranging many national radio and television commercials. In 1997 he became music director at Max's Opera Cafe in San Francisco, and also worked with the cabaret group Bizou. In 2001, he issued a debut solo album, In Dust I Sing, singing and playing original compositions to the ghazal
lyrics of Francis Brabazon
and Bhau Kalchuri
. He also specializes in performing the standard American songbook repertoire of writers such as Cole Porter
, Gershwin
, and Rodgers and Hart
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
keyboard player and singer, who under the name Dave Michaels was best known as co-founder of the '60s acid rock
Acid rock
Acid rock is a form of psychedelic rock, which is characterized with long instrumental solos, few lyrics and musical improvisation. Tom Wolfe describes the LSD-influenced music of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Iron Butterfly, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Cream,...
band H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft (band)
H. P. Lovecraft was an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1967 and named after horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Much of the band's music was possessed of a haunting, eerie ambience, and consisted of material that was inspired by the macabre writings of the author whose...
.
Miotke studied at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, earning a bachelor's degree in music theory and composition, and a master's degree in applied piano. While an undergraduate in 1967, and performing under the name Dave Michaels, he joined folk singer George Edwards
Ethan Kenning
Charles Ethan Kenning is an American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed as George Edwards when he led 1960s acid-rock band, H. P. Lovecraft...
in forming the band H. P. Lovecraft. They released two albums, H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft (album)
H. P. Lovecraft is the debut album by the American psychedelic rock band H. P. Lovecraft and was released in October 1967 by Philips Records. It blended psychedelic and folk rock influences and was marked by the haunting, eerie ambiance of the band's music, which itself was often inspired by the...
and H. P. Lovecraft II
H. P. Lovecraft II
H. P. Lovecraft II is the second album by the American psychedelic rock band H. P. Lovecraft and was released in September 1968 on Philips Records. As with their debut LP, the album again saw the band blending psychedelic and folk rock influences, albeit with a greater emphasis on psychedelia than...
, which were both characterised by Edwards and Michaels' striking vocal harmonies
Vocal harmony
Vocal harmony is a style of vocal music in which a consonant note or notes are sung at the same time as a main melody in a predominantly homophonic texture. Vocal harmonies are used in many subgenres of European art music, including Classical choral music and opera and in the popular styles from...
and by Michaels' multi-instrumental skills. Michaels departed from the band in September 1968 to return to his studies.
He graduated with honors, and continued to work as a musician, singing, playing and arranging many national radio and television commercials. In 1997 he became music director at Max's Opera Cafe in San Francisco, and also worked with the cabaret group Bizou. In 2001, he issued a debut solo album, In Dust I Sing, singing and playing original compositions to the ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
lyrics of Francis Brabazon
Francis Brabazon
Francis Brabazon was an Australian poet and a member of Meher Baba's mandali.Brabazon was born in London, but moved to Australia with his family when he was still a boy. At the age of 21, Francis Brabazon embarked on a quest to discover the relationship between beauty and truth. He studied music...
and Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri is an Indian author, poet, trust administrator, and one of Meher Baba's mandali . Bhau Kalchuri is also the principal biographer of Meher Baba's life....
. He also specializes in performing the standard American songbook repertoire of writers such as Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
, Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, and Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist Lorenz Hart...
.