Craig Michaels
It can be said that NLT Recording artist Craig Michaels has lived more lives than a cat, having packed more than nine lives into his one.
Craig at the age of twelve knew that he was destined to be in the music business after his sister Jackie introduced him to rock 'n' roll. Craig played in many high school bands and then joined in the Navy at the age of seventeen. He was attached to a top secret operation with the heavy attack squadron RVAH-13, the Bat Squadron aboard the USS Kittyhawk during the Vietnam conflict..
Craig had the privilege of not only meeting but also working with such legendary greats as Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship and Jimi Hendrix. Craig also helped form a band called The Yellow Brick Road opening for the The Dead, The Doors (their very first concert at the Halabaloo Club in L.A.) and Jimi Hendrix (at the Experience Club in L.A.). After Yellow Brick Road, Craig was a member of a band called The Great Western Exhibit featuring Bill King from Janis Joplin's group. The Great Western Exhibit toured the US opening for The Stones in Minneapolis, the Jefferson Airplane in Toronto and Jimi Hendrix at the Cafe Wah in Greenwich Village. Craig also co-founded the New World Jazz Company with John Locke, that later became the band Spirit. John later became the keyboardist for Nazareth. Craig also, introduced to the public in Hollywood California. the comedian Robin Williams, who first did pantamime before the Hendrix show, at the Experience.After The Great Western Exhibit, Craig traveled all over the country playing in various bands and writing songs. At one point Craig wound up in Florida jamming with Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Ted Nugent and his band. Craig hooked up with David Brown, the original bass player for a band at the time called The Allman Joys that would later be known as the Allman Brothers.
During this time Janis Joplin came to Florida with Michael Lang and asked Craig if he would like to be involved with an outdoor project Michael was putting together. Craig decided not to get involved with what would later be known as Woodstock.
Soon Craig decided to head to Louisville, Kentucky to visit Bill King, but his truck broke down ten miles outside Nashville and he took that as a sign that he was supposed to spend some time in Music City. After some time in Nashville, Craig decided to travel to Europe and spent several months there playing and traveling. Craig returned from Europe and for a period of time stayed in Macon, Georgia playing in a band that would open some shows for the Allman Brothers.
Craig soon came back to Nashville and became the entertainment director at a club called The Red Dog Saloon. There Craig got a chance to hang out with Nashville's finest singers and songwriters including Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Daniels, Chet Atkins and Wiilie Nelson. Craig even got an opportunity to play with Tex Ritter at the old Ryman Theatre. He also had a bit part in the movie, "Nashville" as a photographer which starred Lilly Tomlin. He played the part of an extra in "The Good Mother" with Dianne Keaton and Liam Neeson and did a bit a in "Second Sight" featuring John Laroquet and Bronson Pinchot. Liam Neeson is the lead in the brand new Star Wars movie.
Craig was then asked to come on the road with The Allman Brothers as a roadie, so Craig would travel back and forth between Macon, Georgia and Nashville. At a show in Boston, Craig met two guys who really wanted to meet the Allman Brothers. The guys were Joe Perry and Steven Tyler from a band known as Aerosmith. Craig hung out the days following that show with Aerosmith and when member Brad, got sick, the band asked Craig to fill in for him. Later Aerosmith asked Craig to join the band, but he was committed to working with The Allmans so he turned it down.
Craig would later return to Nashville and continue to play guitar and write songs. He also got married and settled into a normal family life. After four years, Craig's marriage came to an end. Craig ended up in Houston and decided to attend welding school to start a life with a little more stability than what he had known in the music business. It was after completing his welding school that Craig became a journeyman pipe welder. For the first time in his life, Craig felt at peace about where he was and where he was headed. Craig continued to play music on the side, but loved his new found career as a welder.
Which brings us to the present, Craig is currently a member of the United Association of Pipe Fitters and Plumbers, Local 506 in Escanaba, Michigan as a journeyman welder. When Craig is not busy welding, he can be found out in the wilderness in his all terrain Hummer vehicle. Craig loves to hunt and fish. Craig decided recently to return to the recording studio in Nashville and has produced a new CD of original songs he has written. The album titled, "Rocklin' and Reelin'" is a mixture of rockabilly and country. Craig will be touring and promoting his new CD in the near future. For tour dates and information regarding Craig Michaels you can log on at: www.nlt-records.com and find out all the latest news.
One could read the story of Craig Michaels' life (Craig is working at this time on his autobiography, Nine Tales from a Cat") and be in awe of all that Craig Michaels has done musically, but Craig himself will tell you that having his music and welding career afford him the opportunity of having the best of both worlds. Craig is also a member of Local 257 Nashville A.F. of M., having joined in 1971 - and is a signatory to the Screen Actors Guild.
Craig Michaels' CD and Cassette
"ROCKIN' & REELIN'" by CRAIG MICHAELS
Produced by Craig Michaels and G. D. Stinson
Distributed by
PATRICIA HANSEN
Executive Producer
Patricia is a long time music enthusiast with the ambition to challenge the field of music. She is also a 42 year member of United Auto Workers Local 1218, Dowagiac, MI, where she is employed by National Copper.
NLT RECORDS
211 College St.
Burns, TN 37029
615-255-4343
http://www.ntl-records.com
e-mail: musicman@ntl-records.com
