Michael Hedges
Encyclopedia
Michael Alden Hedges (December 31, 1953 – December 2, 1997) was an American composer, Acoustic guitar
ist and singer-songwriter.
in Enid, Oklahoma
, studying classical guitar. It was here that he studied under his compositional mentor, E. J. Ulrich. Subsequently, from 1979 til 1982, Hedges was a composition major at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland who applied his classically-trained musical background in combination with various unusual techniques to the steel-string acoustic guitar
. He covered a wide range of musical styles and was considered an extremely dynamic performer in concert. Michael made ends meet playing and singing in pubs and restaurants in the Baltimore Metro area during his tenure at Peabody. He was discovered in February 1981 by William Ackerman
who heard him performing at The Varsity Theater in Palo Alto and immediately signed him to a recording contract on the Windham Hill
label. At this time Michael was still planted in Baltimore, but plans to permanently move to California were in the making.
and Aerial Boundaries
—were milestones for the acoustic guitar. He wrote nearly exclusively in alternate tunings. Some of the techniques he used include slap harmonics (created by slapping the strings over a harmonic node
), use of right hand hammer-ons (particularly on bass notes), use of the left hand for melodic or rhythmic hammer-on
s and pull offs, percussive slapping on the guitar body, as well as unusual strummings. He also made extensive use of string damping as employed in classical guitar, and was known to insist strongly on the precise duration of sounds and silences in his pieces. He also played guitar-variants like the harp guitar
(an instrument with additional bass strings), and the TransTrem Guitar. He was a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, percussion, tin whistle, harmonica, and flute, among others on his albums. Bassist Michael Manring
contributed to nearly all of Hedges' records.
Frustrated that his published work reflected only the instrumental side of his creative output, Hedges convinced Windham Hill to release Watching My Life Go By
, a 1985 studio recording of Hedges' vocal originals written over a span of 5 years – songs often performed at his concerts leading up to the album's release.
His fourth album, a live recording called, Live on the Double Planet
, was assembled from 40 of his live concerts captured from 1986–1987 recordings. Subsequently, Hedges earned the freedom to release his albums with vocal and instrumental songs alike, something his first album would have contained were it not for the direction of record label initiatives.
Hedges had a very broad range of influences and his output spans many genres. His musical education was largely in modern 20th century composition. He listened to Martin Carthy
, John Martyn, and the Beatles
, but his approach to composition owed much to Igor Stravinsky
, Edgard Varèse
, Anton Webern
, and Steve Reich
, in addition to experimental composers such as Morton Feldman
. He saw himself as a composer who played guitar, rather than a guitarist who composed music. He was often categorized as a New Age musician
due to his association with the Windham Hill
record label. Somewhat in reaction to this, he would describe his music as "Heavy Mental", "New Edge", ""Acoustic Thrash", "Deep Tissue Gladiator Guitar" or "Savage Myth Guitar," amongst other terms.
Hedges toured briefly as a co-bill with Leo Kottke
. These shows included solo performances by Kottke and Hedges and, as a finale, a number of duets including performances of Kottke's "Doodles" with Hedges playing a high-strung parlor guitar
.
Hedges was left-handed but played right-handed guitars. Hedges would experiment with different pick-ups, effects, and amp combinations to achieve a different and unique sound for every song. Hedges was also able to precisely equalize his instruments for the concert hall in which he was performing. He used state-of-the-art equipment such as Sunrise soundhole pickups, F.R.A.P. and later, Trance Audio soundboard transducers.
, near Boonville
(about 100 miles (160.9 km) northwest of San Francisco). According to his manager and longtime friend Hilleary Burgess, he was driving home from San Francisco International Airport
after a Thanksgiving
visit to his girlfriend in Long Island, New York. His car apparently skidded off a rain-slicked S-curve and down a 120 feet (36.6 m) cliff. Hedges was thrown from his car and appeared to have died nearly instantly. His body was found a few days afterward. After his death, his record Oracle
won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album
.
Hedges' unfinished last recordings were brought to completion in the album Torched
, with the help of his former manager Hilleary Burgess and friends David Crosby
and Graham Nash
. Musician Keller Williams
recorded a song in tribute to Hedges entitled "Not Of This Earth" and is featured on the CD "Breathe."
A fundraiser to help his children can be found at Nomad Land.
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
ist and singer-songwriter.
Background
Hedges attended Phillips UniversityPhillips University
Phillips University was a private, coeducational institution of higher education located in Enid, Oklahoma, United States, from 1906 to 1998. It was affiliated with the Christian Church . It included an undergraduate college and a graduate seminary...
in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, studying classical guitar. It was here that he studied under his compositional mentor, E. J. Ulrich. Subsequently, from 1979 til 1982, Hedges was a composition major at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland who applied his classically-trained musical background in combination with various unusual techniques to the steel-string acoustic guitar
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
. He covered a wide range of musical styles and was considered an extremely dynamic performer in concert. Michael made ends meet playing and singing in pubs and restaurants in the Baltimore Metro area during his tenure at Peabody. He was discovered in February 1981 by William Ackerman
William Ackerman
William Ackerman is a Grammy winning guitarist and composer of acoustic-based instrumental music. He founded and ran for many years the influential New Age record label Windham Hill Records.- Career :...
who heard him performing at The Varsity Theater in Palo Alto and immediately signed him to a recording contract on the Windham Hill
Windham Hill Records
Windham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
label. At this time Michael was still planted in Baltimore, but plans to permanently move to California were in the making.
Recordings
Hedges' first two recordings for Windham Hill—Breakfast in the FieldBreakfast In The Field
Breakfast in the Field is the debut recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label in 1981. It was recorded live to 2-track, with no overdubs....
and Aerial Boundaries
Aerial Boundaries
Aerial Boundaries is the landmark recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. Considered to be one of the greatest acoustic guitar records of all time, it was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Engineered Recording....
—were milestones for the acoustic guitar. He wrote nearly exclusively in alternate tunings. Some of the techniques he used include slap harmonics (created by slapping the strings over a harmonic node
Node (physics)
A node is a point along a standing wave where the wave has minimal amplitude. For instance, in a vibrating guitar string, the ends of the string are nodes. By changing the position of the end node through frets, the guitarist changes the effective length of the vibrating string and thereby the...
), use of right hand hammer-ons (particularly on bass notes), use of the left hand for melodic or rhythmic hammer-on
Hammer-on
Hammer-on is a stringed instrument playing technique performed by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off...
s and pull offs, percussive slapping on the guitar body, as well as unusual strummings. He also made extensive use of string damping as employed in classical guitar, and was known to insist strongly on the precise duration of sounds and silences in his pieces. He also played guitar-variants like the harp guitar
Harp guitar
]The harp guitar is a stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. While there are several unrelated historical stringed instruments that have appropriated the name “harp-guitar” over the centuries, the term today is understood as the accepted vernacular to refer to a particular...
(an instrument with additional bass strings), and the TransTrem Guitar. He was a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, percussion, tin whistle, harmonica, and flute, among others on his albums. Bassist Michael Manring
Michael Manring
Michael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
contributed to nearly all of Hedges' records.
Frustrated that his published work reflected only the instrumental side of his creative output, Hedges convinced Windham Hill to release Watching My Life Go By
Watching My Life Go By
Watching My Life Go By is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released in 1985. After two solo instrumental albums, Hedges supplies vocals on this release.-Track listing:...
, a 1985 studio recording of Hedges' vocal originals written over a span of 5 years – songs often performed at his concerts leading up to the album's release.
His fourth album, a live recording called, Live on the Double Planet
Live on the Double Planet
Live on the Double Planet is a live recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label.-Track listing:All compositions by Michael Hedges except as noted.# "All Along the Watchtower" – 2:59# "Because It's There" – 3:13...
, was assembled from 40 of his live concerts captured from 1986–1987 recordings. Subsequently, Hedges earned the freedom to release his albums with vocal and instrumental songs alike, something his first album would have contained were it not for the direction of record label initiatives.
Hedges had a very broad range of influences and his output spans many genres. His musical education was largely in modern 20th century composition. He listened to Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, John Martyn, and the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, but his approach to composition owed much to Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, Edgard Varèse
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
, Anton Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
, and Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
, in addition to experimental composers such as Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
. He saw himself as a composer who played guitar, rather than a guitarist who composed music. He was often categorized as a New Age musician
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
due to his association with the Windham Hill
Windham Hill Records
Windham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
record label. Somewhat in reaction to this, he would describe his music as "Heavy Mental", "New Edge", ""Acoustic Thrash", "Deep Tissue Gladiator Guitar" or "Savage Myth Guitar," amongst other terms.
Hedges toured briefly as a co-bill with Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
. These shows included solo performances by Kottke and Hedges and, as a finale, a number of duets including performances of Kottke's "Doodles" with Hedges playing a high-strung parlor guitar
Parlor guitar
Parlor or parlour guitar usually refers to a type of smaller-bodied guitar smaller than that of a concert guitar.The popularity of these guitars peaked between the late 19th century until the 1950s...
.
Guitars
Hedges regularly used the following instruments:- 1971 MartinC. F. Martin & CompanyC.F. Martin & Company is a US guitar manufacturer established in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin. Martin is highly regarded for its steel-string guitars, and is a leading mass manufacturer of flattop acoustics with models that retail for thousands of dollars and vintage instruments that often...
D-28 guitar (nicknamed "Barbara") with a combination of a Sunrise S-1 magnetic pickup and FRAP contact pickup under the treble strings - custom 1980s TakamineTakamine Guitarsis a Japanese guitar manufacturer based in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan. Takamine is known for its steel-string guitars.The company was founded in May 1962; in 1978 they were one of the first companies to introduce acoustic-electric models, where they pioneered the design of the preamp-equalizer...
guitars with his name on the headstock - LowdenAvalon GuitarsAvalon Guitars is the name of an acoustic guitar manufacturer based in Newtownards, County Down in Northern Ireland.- History :The company, Avalon Guitars Limited, was originally formed in 1989 as The Lowden Guitar Company Limited and operated from Bangor, County Down until 1990...
L-250 guitars - Martin J-65M guitars
- 1920s Dyer harp guitar configured with a FRAP/autoharp pickup combo / reconfigured with Sunrise S-1 and two Barcus Berry magnetic pickups for the sub-basses (glued straight to the body)
- Steve Klein electric harp guitar with a TransTrem bridge
- circa 1913 black Knutsen harp guitar (often incorrectly referred to as a Dyer) with a FRAP/autoharp pickup combo—and rattlesnake tail wedged under the sub-basses at headstock
Hedges was left-handed but played right-handed guitars. Hedges would experiment with different pick-ups, effects, and amp combinations to achieve a different and unique sound for every song. Hedges was also able to precisely equalize his instruments for the concert hall in which he was performing. He used state-of-the-art equipment such as Sunrise soundhole pickups, F.R.A.P. and later, Trance Audio soundboard transducers.
Death
In late 1997, Hedges died at the age of 43 in a car accident along State Route 128 in Mendocino CountyMendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
, near Boonville
Boonville, California
Boonville is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located southwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 381 feet . The population was 1,035 at the 2010 census.-History:...
(about 100 miles (160.9 km) northwest of San Francisco). According to his manager and longtime friend Hilleary Burgess, he was driving home from San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...
after a Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
visit to his girlfriend in Long Island, New York. His car apparently skidded off a rain-slicked S-curve and down a 120 feet (36.6 m) cliff. Hedges was thrown from his car and appeared to have died nearly instantly. His body was found a few days afterward. After his death, his record Oracle
Oracle (Michael Hedges album)
Oracle is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Oracle peaked at #7 on the Billboard New Age Album charts....
won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album
Grammy Award for Best New Age Album
The Grammy Award for Best New Age Album is presented to recording artists for quality albums in the New Age music genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
.
Hedges' unfinished last recordings were brought to completion in the album Torched
Torched (Michael Hedges album)
Torched is the recording guitarist Michael Hedges was working on at the time of his fatal automobile accident in 1997. It was released posthumously on the Windham Hill label.-Track listing:All compositions by Michael Hedges.# "Torched" – 4:51...
, with the help of his former manager Hilleary Burgess and friends David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
and Graham Nash
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
. Musician Keller Williams
Keller Williams
Keller Williams is an American musician from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who began performing in the early 1990s. He is also known by the names K-Dub or just Keller, when performing. Williams' music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, alternative rock, reggae, electronica/dance, jazz, funk, and...
recorded a song in tribute to Hedges entitled "Not Of This Earth" and is featured on the CD "Breathe."
A fundraiser to help his children can be found at Nomad Land.
Recognition
- "I feel I can always hear his heart when he plays. He respected my playing too, and that simply thrills me." – Pete TownshendPete TownshendPeter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
- "Michael was unique. His music transcends genre and trend. It's truly musical, fun and enlightening.” – Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- "His playing has a feel and timbre all its own – technically brilliant, but always organic and true." – Joe SatrianiJoe SatrianiJoseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
- "One of the most brilliant musicians in America." – David CrosbyDavid CrosbyDavid Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
- "I considered him to be a genius and when he died I lost a great friend." – Graham NashGraham NashGraham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
- "There was simply no one like him." – Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
- "He was a real musician who remained humble even through stardom. A rare breed indeed." – Alvin LeeAlvin LeeAlvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
Studio albums
- Breakfast in the FieldBreakfast In The FieldBreakfast in the Field is the debut recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label in 1981. It was recorded live to 2-track, with no overdubs....
(1981) - Aerial BoundariesAerial BoundariesAerial Boundaries is the landmark recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. Considered to be one of the greatest acoustic guitar records of all time, it was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Engineered Recording....
(1984) - Watching My Life Go ByWatching My Life Go ByWatching My Life Go By is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released in 1985. After two solo instrumental albums, Hedges supplies vocals on this release.-Track listing:...
(1985) - TaprootTaproot (Michael Hedges album)Taproot is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It was a Grammy nominee for Best New Age Album.-Track listing:*All compositions by Michael Hedges except as noted....
(1990) - The Road to ReturnThe Road to ReturnThe Road to Return is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It features eight vocal arrangements and two instrumentals.-Track listing:All compositions by Michael Hedges except as noted.# "Prelude" – 3:05...
(1994) - OracleOracle (Michael Hedges album)Oracle is a recording by guitarist Michael Hedges released on the Windham Hill label. It won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Oracle peaked at #7 on the Billboard New Age Album charts....
(1996) - TorchedTorched (Michael Hedges album)Torched is the recording guitarist Michael Hedges was working on at the time of his fatal automobile accident in 1997. It was released posthumously on the Windham Hill label.-Track listing:All compositions by Michael Hedges.# "Torched" – 4:51...
(1999–posthumous)
Compilations (solo)
- Strings of Steel (1993)
- Sounds of Wood and Steel (1998)
- Best of Michael Hedges (2000–posthumous)
- Beyond Boundaries: Guitar Solos (2001–posthumous)
- Platinum & Gold Collection: Michael Hedges (2003–posthumous)
- Pure (2006–posthumous)
Compilations (various artists)
- An Evening with Windham Hill Live (1982)
- A Winter’s Solstice II (1988)
- A Winter’s Solstice III (1990)
- Windham Hill: The First Ten Years (1990)
- Windham Hill Guitar Sampler II (1992)
- Carols of Christmas (1996)
- Summer Solstice (1997)
- A Winter's Solstice VI (1997)
- The Renaissance Album (1998)
- Touch: Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar (2001)