Mik Kaminski
Encyclopedia
Mik Kaminski is best known for playing violin
in the Electric Light Orchestra
between 1973 and 1979.
with the Leeds Orchestra, when he was 14. During his time at the Leeds School Of Music he founded the band
Cow, together with his friends John Hodgson (drums
) and John Marcangelo (keyboards
and percussion
). In 1973 he joined Joe Soap and played violin on their Keep It Clean album
. Their producer
Sandy Roberton suggested Kaminski to Andy Roberts, who needed a violinist for his album. Thus Kaminski played in 1973 on Roberts's Andy Roberts And The Grand Stampede LP
.
After those albums Kaminski applied for the vacant post as ELO
's violinist because of an advertisement in the Melody Maker
. He was recruited after two interviews.
Kaminski was one of the three remaining string
players for the group when Lynne decided to remove them. However, he appeared in the band again when he played a solo on the 1983 single "Rock 'n' Roll Is King". Later on he joined the ELO offshoot ELO Part II
, playing as part of the live touring band
.
Apart from the hits
he had with ELO, in early 1979 Kaminski made the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
as the frontman of a one-hit wonder
group called Violinski
, with the single
"Clog Dance
".
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in the Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
between 1973 and 1979.
Biography
He made his first professional performancePerformance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
with the Leeds Orchestra, when he was 14. During his time at the Leeds School Of Music he founded the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Cow, together with his friends John Hodgson (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) and John Marcangelo (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
). In 1973 he joined Joe Soap and played violin on their Keep It Clean album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
. Their producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Sandy Roberton suggested Kaminski to Andy Roberts, who needed a violinist for his album. Thus Kaminski played in 1973 on Roberts's Andy Roberts And The Grand Stampede LP
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
.
After those albums Kaminski applied for the vacant post as ELO
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
's violinist because of an advertisement in the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. He was recruited after two interviews.
Kaminski was one of the three remaining string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
players for the group when Lynne decided to remove them. However, he appeared in the band again when he played a solo on the 1983 single "Rock 'n' Roll Is King". Later on he joined the ELO offshoot ELO Part II
ELO Part II
ELO Part II were an offshoot band formed by Electric Light Orchestra drummer Bev Bevan. The band also included former ELO bassist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and violinist Mik Kaminski for most of its career...
, playing as part of the live touring band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
.
Apart from the hits
Hit parade
A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined by sales and/or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936...
he had with ELO, in early 1979 Kaminski made the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
as the frontman of a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
group called Violinski
Violinski
Violinski is a rock band formed in 1977 by Electric Light Orchestra member Mik Kaminski on violins, and former member Mike de Albuquerque on guitar and vocals; plus Barry Dunnery , John Hodgson , Paul Mann, John Marcangelo and Iain Whitmore...
, with the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Clog Dance
Clog Dance (song)
Clog Dance was the first single released by Violinski, and became their only charting single. It was written by band member John Marcangelo, inspired by a shop in his town called Brew's which sold clogs....
".