|
 |
|
MICHAELTRAYLOR | Producer / Musician
A producer should be able to transcend many musical styles in an effort to inspire the artist to reach their potential. Being able to translate musical ideas to musicians as well as the technical knowledge to capture ideas in any recording idiom only comes from years of experience and perseverance. Michael is a forty-year veteran of the music business with memberships in The Academy of Recording Arts, The Roots Music Association and The Blues Music Association.
Michael has worked on concert stages and in studios all over the world. His studio experience started in 1969 with the recording of two singles on Fevre Records in Atlanta, GA and was followed by a full-length album in Nashville for RCA in 1971. From that experience Michael was hooked by the allure of recording and producing the best music possible. Michael studied Classical Composition and Theory on scholarship in both Chipola College and The Florida State University School of Music. After college in 1975, Michael pursued and received a record deal with Artist of America Records in Los Angeles, CA. This relationship led Michael to work closely with engineers Stan Ross and Larry Levine, both instrumental in the creation of the “Wall of Sound” with Phil Spector in Gold Star Studios at the corner of Santa Monica and Vine Street in Hollywood. This studio has seen major recording artists from the Beach Boys to the Beatles. During this time, Michael learned all the intricacies of recording from these legendary masters all the while touring and playing throughout the US and Asia with many great artists as an “in demand” drummer. Michael also appeared on Television shows for NBC, CBS and ABC.
In 1976 Michael became an associate producer working under David Geffen (then at 20th Century Records) and Morton Downey, Jr. Michael went on to be part owner of several studios in California and produced in Los Angeles, Fresno and the world famous Record Plant in the San Francisco Bay area. During the California days, Michael worked as music director and drummer touring with Fabian, Paul Delicato and Denny King. Michael also had musical associations both recording and/or touring with Captain Beefheart, Sonny and Cher, Isaac Hayes, Hank Williams, Jr., Delaney Bramlett and Friends (which included George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Billy Preston).
By the mid eighties, Michael, wanting to move closer to family and leave the crowded freeways of LA behind, moved to Nashville to continue his music career in Music City USA. Between 1984 and 1999, Michael toured and/or recorded with many artists including Gus Hardin, Warren Haynes, Wendell Adkins, Leon Everette, George Jones, The Forrester Sisters, John Conlee, Tommy Tutone and Connie Smith with many appearances on The Nashville Network and CMT including several appearances on The Grand Old Opry. These were productive years with playing on and/or producing over fifteen albums recorded in Nashville, Florida and South Carolina (with former members of The Marshall Tucker Band). He added to his touring resume with multiple tours through North America and Europe playing to literally millions of rock and country fans. Some of these tours included Don Henley, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, The Bellamy Brothers and Jerry Lee Lewis.
In January of 2000, Michael semi-retired from the road to take the job of Audio/Visual Coordinator for The Florida House of Representatives in his home state of Florida. His responsibilities in this role are extensive, overseeing the technical production aspects of the audio and presentation systems throughout the State Capital of Florida. This move has made it possible to also concentrate his efforts toward music production, building his own studio and producing six albums as well as numerous EP’s since it’s opening in 2003. This has not stopped him from touring Europe six times since 2001, five of which were reunion tours with Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band, reunited with the help and the bequest of Matt Groening of “The Simpsons” fame, claiming the band as his “favorite band”. This endeavor brought about three albums, one recorded in LA and two in London. The band also recorded a live concert broadcast for the BBC. In addition to the concert itineraries, the band made an appearance on Sweden’s TV4 Network and also headlining and selling out the Royal Festival Hall in London as well as performing at the Glastonbury Music Festival sharing the same bill with Paul McCartney, to an audience that numbered over one-hundred and fifty thousand fans.
Since 2006, Michael has reunited with 80’s rocker Tommy Tutone appearing throughout the US on many retro eighties shows with other 80’s bands that include Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls, 10,000 Maniacs, ABC, Naked Eyes, The Knack, Starship with Mickey Thomas, Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), Alex Ligertwood (Santana) and Gene Loves Jezebel.
Michael has been endorsed by Ludwig Drums (featured in The History of The Ludwig Drum Company), Fox Percussion, Cappella Drum Sticks and Sabian Cymbals. He has also been featured in Classic Drummer Magazine.
Experience in performing and directing most any style of music, experience in both analog and digital recording, experience in producing and recording all over the world for some of the most famous clients on earth and available for your next project, come meet Michael Traylor.
Michael and Kim were married March 3rd, 2003 and in 2004 founded Swamp Monk Music Works. The company has been created to be a full production facility to develop artists for the next step into the world of music.... Synaxis Sound and Synaxis Sound Recordings are the in house studio and label... We can produce and record full bands or solo singers recording with tracks..... Swamp Monk Music Works is dedicated to exploring the musical landscapes born in the creative expressions of all kinds of musicians and singers....
Welcome to Swamp Monk Music Works... Michael and Kim Traylor...God Bless
| 
