Mandel, Mike

Songwriter, composer, educator, keyboardist, producer, programmer and synthesizer player from Yakama, Washington, who went blind at a young age but developed a keen ear for music. Groups with whom he has worked include the Checkers-nee-Rumblers, the Eleventh House, Foreplay, the Jack Bruce Band and the Players Association.

On 28^th October 1972, Eleventh House opened for Captain Beefheart at Town Hall in New York, New York. They played in New Paltz, New York, on 17^th March 1973. One of the songs in their set, “Joyride”, was penned by Mike. In 1975, they were the opening act for one Frank Zappa.

Recordings on which Mike appears include: Introducing the Eleventh House; Larry Coryell & the Eleventh House at Montreux; Improvisations: Best of the Vanguard Years and Level One by Eleventh House; RMI Harmonic Synthesizer and Keyboard Computer with Carlo Curley and Clark Ferguson; and, his own Sky Music and Utopia Parkway.

In addition to his musical accomplishments, he has also established FIA MIDI-MAG, an audiocassette magazine created for other blind musicians who also use computers.

Glen Campbell recordings
Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint)
Capitol 4376 S93475A

Sources:

Mandel, Mike

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