Mike Kowalski

Mike Kowalski

Kowalski at a concert in 1998
Background information
Born (1944-07-28) July 28, 1944
Origin Hollywood, California, United States
Genres Rock, Blues, Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, Writer, Producer
Instruments Drums, Piano
Years active 1947–present
Associated acts Beach Boys
The Backsters

Mike Kowalski (born July 28, 1944) is a drummer, percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the former drummers from the rock band The Beach Boys.

Early career

Mike Kowalski was born in Hollywood, California. He started singing and playing piano at the age of three. His first professional engagement was playing the piano, with Mel Torme on drums, for a television pilot at the age of five. At age ten, he was given a set of Slingerland Radio-King drums by Dragnet actor Jack Webb.[1][2]

At the age of fifteen, he was playing drums professionally with various local rock and rhythm and blues bands. He performed both on stage and on screen as his family was affiliated with the film and television industries. By age nineteen he was playing drums with, L.A. based singers, Pat and Lolly Vegas, whom later formed the pop group Redbone. Also during this time Kowalski performed and recorded with Sonny & Cher, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Etta James.[3]

In 1968 Kowalski was asked to join Ed Carter's, London based rock/blues band, The New Nadir, along with Gary Thain on bass. The New Nadir played the London circuit . The trio shared the bill at the Marquee club with Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, The Nice, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, and Jeff Beck, to name a few.

A highlight for Kowalski was at the Speakeasy, when a friend of Carter's sat in with the band. The friend was Jimi Hendrix. Joe Boyd of Witchseason Productions signed The New Nadir, who recorded three songs for Boyd, written by Carter and Peter Dawkins. In 1970 Kowalski and Carter recorded a Latin-Jazz-Rock album with Boyd, however it was never released. Kowalski played drums on John and Beverley Martyn, Dudu Pukwana, Mike Heron and Nick Drake's albums, all of the artists were signed to Witchseason Productions. .[1][4]

In 1968 Kowalski met Dawn Aston from Kent. They were married in 1969.

The Beach Boys and The Backsters

In 1968 Kowalski joins The Beach Boys,[5] playing percussion and drums for the band. On October 3rd, 1970 he plays his first show on drums at the Big Sur Folk Festival in Monterey, CA filing in for Dennis Wilson, who was filming the movie Two-Lane Black Top. In 1971 Kowalski is again on drums as The Beach Boys perform closing night at Fillmore East, NYC on June 27 and the "Good Vibrations Live Concert in Central Park" on July 2nd. Wilson was unable to play drums because of a hand injury, although he sang and played keyboards.

After the Central Park Show, the Beach Boys fly back to LA. A day later Kowalski is on a plane to Tokyo playing drums with the Johnny Otis Show for a tour of the Far East. He will play drums with Johnny Otis from 1971-1974, juggling dates between both bands. In addition to touring with the Beach boys and Celebration in 1977 and 1978, Kowalski also records three albums on drums and percussion. The Beach Boys MIU album, The Almost Summer Soundtrack with Celebration and Charles Lloyd's Weavings.

In October 1981 Dennis Wilson, and percussionist Bobby Figueroa are unable to tour. Kowalski, after a three year absence from the band returns to play drums. By the end of the year Kowalski and Wilson, who is back on drums are playing Sun City, South Africa for Christmas and New Years.

1982 has Kowalski playing drums for Mike Love's Endless Summer Beach Band featuring Dean Torrence, and drums and percussion with The Beach Boys.

In March 1983 there are two sets of drums on stage, both Kowalski and Wilson play the shows together until Wilson's untimely death on December 28th, 1983.

For the next 23 years Kowalski will tour with The Beach Boys playing drums until he parts ways with them in September 2007. .[1][2]

In 1984 Kowalski collaborated with Joel Peskin to create The Backsters. They were signed to A & M Records with Herb Alpert as executive producer. Their album, entitled Get on Your Back, featured many seasoned jazz and blues players. Released in early 1985, their first single was "Handclappin".[1][2]

Other bands and performers

Kowalski has played with numerous bands and performers; both as a member of the group and as a session musician. Acts Kowalski has played with include:[6][7][8][9]

Albert CollinsShuggie OtisJim O'Keefe
Nino TempoNick Drake Billy Hinsche
Roger McGuinnBarry MannJon Lawton
Brian WilsonBumps BlackwellAdrian Baker
Mark AndesJohn Martyn and Beverley MartynDon Peake
Gene VincentCrazy HorseHank Marr
Eddie "Cleanhead" VinsonCaptain and TennilleErnie Knapp
Marie AdamsJoe BoydBobby Figueroa
Bruce JohnstonLeon RussellMike Meros
Chris FarmerLance CarsonSteve Douglas
Mike LeyGeorge WhitsellGary Griffin
Darrol SchexnayderThe DragonsElliot Ingber
John MarxDomenic Genova
Tay Uhler AKA Eddie SapienGary ChangScott LipskerPhilip Bardowell
Chris Mancini 'Rock Island'Clark GarmanBobby Jones Joe Houston
Tim BonhommeCarl RadleRod Armstrong Big Joe Turner
Scott Engel with The Walker BrothersStu Hoffman AKA Barbecue BobDean Torrence Charlie Musselwhite
Bobbie GentryLeroy VinnegarAndy Simpkins Probyn Gregory
Jerry GonzalezHenry VestineWells Kelly
Ron AltbachSoupe BradshawJitter Webb
Joe AngeloJeff FoskettDave Pegg

Discography

A brief list of bands and musicians Kowalski has played with:[6][7][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ventura County Star http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/aug/14/meet-the-beatman---mike-kowalski/
  2. 1 2 3 Adrian Peel. "Interview with Mike Kowalski". Suite.
  3. ↑ "The OC" Beach Band. "About "The OC" Beach Band". Sonicbids.
  4. ↑ Down The Line. "Down The Line: THE NEW NADIR / ME AND THE OTHERS".
  5. ↑ The Beach Boys lineups
  6. 1 2 "Mike Kowalski". AllMusic.
  7. 1 2 "Mike Kowalski".
  8. 1 2 http://www.discogs.com/artist/285390-Mike-Kowalski
  9. 1 2 "Mike Kowalski Discography at CD Universe".
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