Micky Lee Soule
Encyclopedia
Mickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf
and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
.
Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York
. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army. After his honorable discharge he joined The Elves after the band's original keyboardist, Doug Thaler, was injured in a car accident that killed guitarist Nick Pantas. Shortly after Soule was recruited the band changed their name to Elf
and enjoyed minor fame as the opening act for Deep Purple
.
After a few years, a few more members and two albums, Soule and the rest of Elf (minus their guitarist) were transformed into Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
, featuring Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
. During this time a third and final Elf album Trying to Burn the Sun
was recorded when the former Elves were not in the studio recording Rainbow's debut album. Blackmore fired the entire line up with the exception of Dio
before the first Rainbow tour.
In 1974, he also sang the lead vocals on 'No Solution', from Roger Glover
's 'The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast'
In 1976 Soule toured France
with The Ian Gillan Band
.
Soule continues to play locally in NY. His son Matt Soule, plays drums in the Los Angeles
alternative rock band, Where's Moo.
One "Mickey Lee Soul" (sic) is credited as Keyboard tech in the liner notes of Deep Purple's album "Live at the Olympia '96".
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ian Gillan Band
Other
Elf (band)
Elf was a rock band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein . The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970...
and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
.
Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York
Cortland, New York
Cortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville....
. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army. After his honorable discharge he joined The Elves after the band's original keyboardist, Doug Thaler, was injured in a car accident that killed guitarist Nick Pantas. Shortly after Soule was recruited the band changed their name to Elf
Elf (band)
Elf was a rock band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein . The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970...
and enjoyed minor fame as the opening act for Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
.
After a few years, a few more members and two albums, Soule and the rest of Elf (minus their guitarist) were transformed into Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
, featuring Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
. During this time a third and final Elf album Trying to Burn the Sun
Trying to Burn the Sun
Trying To Burn the Sun was the third and last album produced by Elf, released in 1975.-Track listing:Songs written by Dio and Soule.#"Black Swampy Water" - 3:43#"Prentice Wood" - 4:37#"When She Smiles" - 4:54#"Good Time Music" - 4:30...
was recorded when the former Elves were not in the studio recording Rainbow's debut album. Blackmore fired the entire line up with the exception of Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
before the first Rainbow tour.
In 1974, he also sang the lead vocals on 'No Solution', from Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
's 'The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast'
In 1976 Soule toured France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with The Ian Gillan Band
Ian Gillan Band
The Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
.
Soule continues to play locally in NY. His son Matt Soule, plays drums in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
alternative rock band, Where's Moo.
One "Mickey Lee Soul" (sic) is credited as Keyboard tech in the liner notes of Deep Purple's album "Live at the Olympia '96".
Discography
Elf- 1972 - ElfElf (album)Elf is the first album by Ronnie James Dio's blues rock band called Elf. It was released in 1972. In this album, Dio is listed by his birth name Ronald Padavona...
- 1974 - Carolina County BallCarolina County BallCarolina County Ball, was the second album by the rock band Elf, released as an LP in 1974 on the MGM label. It was released in the United States and Japan as L.A.59.- Track listing :Songs written by Dio and Soule.#"Carolina County Ball" – 4:46...
- 1975 - Trying to Burn the SunTrying to Burn the SunTrying To Burn the Sun was the third and last album produced by Elf, released in 1975.-Track listing:Songs written by Dio and Soule.#"Black Swampy Water" - 3:43#"Prentice Wood" - 4:37#"When She Smiles" - 4:54#"Good Time Music" - 4:30...
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
- 1975 - Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowRitchie Blackmore's RainbowNote: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
Ian Gillan Band
- 2003 - Rarities 1975-1977
Other
- 1974 - Roger Glover "Butterfly Ball and Grasshopper’s Feast"
- 1978 - Roger Glover "ElementsElements (Roger Glover album)Elements is the second solo album from Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover. It was recorded in early 1977 but wasn't released until April 1978 on PolyGram Records. The album's main concept is based on the four elements.-Track listing:...
" - 1982 - Eddie HardinEddie HardinEddie Hardin , is an English rock pianist and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his associations with the Spencer Davis Group, Axis Point also Hardin and York...
"Circumstantial Evidence" - 1990 - A'LA Rock "Indulge"
- 2000 - Deep Purple "Live at the Royal Albert HallLive at the Royal Albert Hall (Deep Purple album)Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a live album by British hard rock band Deep Purple, recorded on September 25 and September 26, 1999 at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, and released on February 8, 2000 on Spitfire records.The album was a project started in 1999 by...
" - 2002 - Roger Glover "Snapshot"
- 2006 - Ian Gillan "Gillan's Inn"
- 2011 - Roger Glover "If Life Was Easy"