Mike Deasy

Mike Deasy
Mike Deasy in Pärnu, Estonia 1992
Mike Deasy in Pärnu, Estonia 1992
Background information
Birth nameMichael William Deasy
Born (1941-02-04) February 4, 1941 (age 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, sitar, vocals
Years active1958–present
LabelsCapitol, Sparrow, Saltmine
Websitewww.mikedeasy.com

Michael William Deasy (born February 4, 1941) is an American rock and jazz guitarist. As a session musician, he played on numerous hit singles and albums recorded in Los Angeles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He is sometimes credited as Mike Deasy Sr.

Biography

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He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where he learned to play guitar as a child.[1] While still in high school, he played in bands backing visiting musicians such as Ricky Nelson and The Everly Brothers, and also played in Ritchie Valens' touring band with Bruce Johnston, Larry Knechtel, Sandy Nelson, and Jim Horn. After graduating in 1959, he joined Eddie Cochran's band, the Kelly Four, where he played both guitar and baritone sax and made his first recordings.[2][3][4] He also played with The Coasters and Duane Eddy.[1]

Following Cochran's death in 1960, he became an active session musician in Los Angeles[5] after winning a Down Beat magazine collegiate jazz music scholarship in 1961.[6] Deasy married Jim Horn's sister Kathie in 1961, and the couple later set up their own recording studio and production company, Saltmine Recording. He worked as a member of "The Wrecking Crew", with Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel and others, on sessions for Phil Spector, and contributed guitar parts to The Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds.[1][5] In the 1960s and later years he also worked on records by the Monkees, the Association, Scott McKenzie, Johnny Rivers, the Fifth Dimension, Rick Nelson, Randy Newman, Spanky & Our Gang, Tommy Roe, Fats Domino, The Byrds, Michael Jackson, Helen Reddy, Frank Zappa, and others.[1][2]

In 1967, he contributed to albums coordinated by record producer Curt Boettcher, including Friar Tuck and His Psychedelic Guitar, effectively a Deasy solo album with wordless vocals by Boettcher.[7] Under the pseudonym Lybuk Hyd, Deasy also played guitar and sitar on the psychedelic concept album Tanyet, credited to The Ceyleib People, which also featured Ry Cooder.[5]

Deasy played guitar (with Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey) on Elvis Presley's 1968 TV special, Elvis. He also performed live with musicians including Cannonball Adderley and Little Richard. In 1969, he was invited by record producer Terry Melcher to work with a newly discovered singer-songwriter, Charles Manson.[8] Deasy left Manson's home after three days, "in a state of drug-fueled paranoia".[5]

Deasy continued to record with leading musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Chet Baker, and Mel Tormé.[1] His guitar playing has appeared on the soundtrack of many films including The Graduate, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Duel, Bullitt, and Dirty Harry, as well as on many commercials.[1][9]

From the early 1970s onwards after becoming a born again Christian at the 1969 Billy Graham crusade in Anaheim, California, Deasy became increasingly involved with Contemporary Christian music, producing and writing songs for several successful albums, often in conjunction with his wife. In later years, he has had a parallel career as a motivational speaker, and since 1988 has run a "Yes To Life" educational and inspirational program in schools and colleges in the US, Canada and Europe.[3] The Deasys also co-pastored Rock Church Southeast in Port Arthur, Texas, until it eventually shut its doors when Hurricane Harvey flooded the building.

Discography

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  • Your Gang (Mercury, 1966)
  • Tanyet (Vault, 1967)
  • Friar Tuck and His Psychedelic Guitar (Mercury, 1967)
  • Gator Creek (Mercury, 1970)
  • Letters to My Head (Capitol, 1973)
  • Wings of an Eagle (Sparrow, 1976)
  • Wings of Praise (Saltmine, 1987)
  • God Hates Queer (Saltmine, 1988)
  • Holy Smoke (Saltmine, 1991)
  • Tru Love (Saltmine, 1994)
  • Guitar Gold (Saltmine, 1995)
  • Signs and Wonders (Saltmine, 1999)
  • Paper Airplane (Saltmine, 2000)
  • Path of Peace Vol. 1 (Saltmine, 2003)
  • Path of Peace Vol. 2 (Saltmine, 2003)
  • Endtimes Weather Band (Saltmine, 2011)
  • Driftin' (Saltmine, 2013)
  • The Road Home Vol. 1 (Saltmine)
  • The Road Home Vol. 2 (Saltmine)

Partial credits as a sideman

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Year Artist Album Title Allmusic[10]

Pro Rating

Allmusic

User Rating

1960 Eddie Cochran "12 Of His Biggest Hits"
1962 Aki Aleong and His Licorice Twisters "Twistin' The Hits"
1964 The Road Runners "The New Mustang and Other Hot Rod Hits"
1965 Gary Lewis & The Playboys "This Diamond Ring"
1965 Dennis Budimir "The Creeper"
1965 Irene Kral "Wonderful Life"
1966 Petula Clark "My Love"
1966 Pete Candoli "Moscow Mule and Many More Kicks"
1966 Tommy Roe "Sweet Pea"
1966 The Deep Six "The Deep Six"
1966 Nancy Sinatra "Boots"
1966 The Monkees "The Monkees"
1966 Bobby Darin "If I Were a Carpenter"
1966 The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds"
1966 Ben Benay "The Big Blues Harmonica of Ben Benay"
1966 Your Gang "If You Want To Buy 'Em"
1966 Jerry Goldsmith "Stagecoach O.S.T."
1966 The Association "And Then... Along Comes the Association"
1966 Lalo Schifrin "Murderer's Row"
1967 Dean Martin "Happiness Is Dean Martin"
1967 Paul Revere & the Raiders "Revolution!"
1967 Nilsson "Pandemonium Shadow Show"
1967 Scott McKenzie "The Voice of Scott McKenzie"
1967 Elvis Presley "Double Trouble"
1967 The Ventures "Super Psychedelics"
1967 Bobbie Gentry "Ode to Billie Joe"
1967 The First Edition "The First Edition"
1967 The Parade "The Parade"
1967 The 5th Dimension "The Magic Garden"
1967 The Association "Insight Out"
1967 Gary Lewis & The Playboys "Listen!"
1967 Jan and Dean "Carnival of Sound"
1967 Tommy Roe "Phantasy"
1967 The Yellow Balloon "The Yellow Balloon"
1967 The Monkees "More of the Monkees"
1967 The Robbs "The Robbs"
1967 Harpers Bizarre "Feelin' Groovy"
1967 Gale Garnett "Sings About Flying & Rainbows & Love & Other Groovy Things"
1967 The Cake "The Cake"
1967 Sagittarius "Present Tense"
1967 The Ceyleib People "Tanyet"
1967 The Beach Boys "Smiley Smile"
1967 Johnny Rivers "Rewind"
1967 Lesley Gore "Magic Colors"
1967 Bobby Darin "Inside Out"
1967 Tommy Roe "It's Now Winter's Day"
1967 Harpers Bizarre "Anything Goes"
1967 Rick Nelson "Another Side Of Rick"
1967 Dean Martin "Welcome to My World"
1968 Honey Ltd. "Honey Ltd."
1968 Frank De Vol "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner O.S.T."
1968 Spanky & Our Gang "Like to Get to Know You"
1968 The Lettermen "Put Your Head On My Shoulder"
1968 The Sugar Shoppe "The Sugar Shoppe"
1968 Richard Harris "A Tramp Shining"
1968 Randy Newman "Randy Newman"
1968 Elvis Presley "Elvis"
1968 The Millennium "Begin"
1968 Lalo Schifrin "Bullitt"
1968 The Monkees "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees"
1968 Carmen McRae "The Sound of Silence"
1968 The Gosdin Brothers "Sounds of Goodbye"
1968 Fats Domino "Fats Is Back"
1968 Tiny Tim "God Bless Tiny Tim"
1968 The Gentle Soul "The Gentle Soul"
1968 Rick Nelson "Perspective"
1968 Richard Harris "The Yard Went On Forever"
1968 The Association "Birthday"
1968 Mason Williams "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record"
1968 Mel Tormé "A Day in the Life of Bonnie and Clyde"
1968 The Grass Roots "Golden Grass"
1968 The Beau Brummels "Bradley's Barn"
1968 Peggy Lipton "Peggy Lipton"
1968 The 5th Dimension "Stoned Soul Picnic"
1969 The Monkees "The Monkees Present"
1969 Jimmie Rodgers "Windmills of Your Mind"
1969 Larry Norman "Upon This Rock"
1969 Elvis Presley "Elvis Sings Flaming Star"
1969 Laura Nyro "New York Tendaberry"
1969 Mark Spoelstra "Mark Spoelstra"
1969 Michele O'Malley "Saturn Rings"
1969 Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart "It's All Happening On The Inside"
1969 Tommy Roe "Dizzy"
1969 Jackie Gleason "The Now Sound ... For Today's Lovers"
1969 John Simon "Last Summer" O.S.T.
1969 Townes Van Zandt "Our Mother the Mountain"
1969 Thelma Houston "Sunshower"
1969 The Grass Roots "Lovin' Things"
1969 The Mystic Moods Orchestra "Extensions"
1969 Cass Elliot "Bubblegum, Lemonade, and... Something for Mama"
1969 Stan Kenton "Hair"
1969 The 5th Dimension "The Age of Aquarius"
1969 The Monkees "Instant Replay"
1969 Peggy Lee "A Natural Woman"
1970 Jackie DeShannon "To Be Free"
1970 The 5th Dimension "The July 5th Album"
1970 Paul Williams "Someday Man"
1970 Bobby Scott "Robert William Scott - In Memory of the Race"
1970 Elvis Presley "Let's Be Friends"
1970 The Jackson 5 "ABC"
1970 Claudine Longet "Run Wild, Run Free"
1970 Tommy Roe "We Can Make Music"
1970 Chet Baker "Blood, Chet and Tears"
1970 The 5th Dimension "Portrait"
1971 Jack Daugherty "Class Of Nineteen Hundred and Seventy One"
1971 Howard Roberts "Antelope Freeway"
1971 David Axelrod "Rock Interpretation of Handel's Messiah"
1971 Cannonball Adderley "The Black Messiah"
1971 Elvis Presley "You'll Never Walk Alone"
1971 The Flying Burrito Brothers "The Flying Burrito Bros."