Mike Hinton

Michael David Hinton (May 4, 1956 – August 1, 2013) was an American guitarist residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his career, he played with numerous bands, including Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts, High Noon, and Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band. He appeared on several albums with the Rainforest Band and other Merl Saunders projects, including It's In The Air,[1] Fiesta Amazonica,[2] Still Having Fun, Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends - Live,[3][4] and Still Groovin.

Career

Hinton played with Country Joe McDonald and Friends,[5] and recorded with Rick Danko on A Tribute To Jerry Garcia: Deadhead Festival in Tokyo, Japan, 1997.[6] He was also on the Roky Erickson albums Don't Slander Me and You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best Of Roky Erickson.[1] Among his other credits are his involvement in the Mickey Hart and Merl Saunders band, High Noon,[7] and Freddie Roulette and Friends.[8] He co-wrote the music for the films Stacy's Knights (1982) and Eddie Macon's Run (1983), and played on the score for the 1980s remake of the television program, The Twilight Zone with Jerry Garcia, John Cipollina, David Grisman, and others. Hinton also co-wrote several songs with the world-renowned harmonica player Norton Buffalo, as well as playing lead guitar in Norton's band for approximately seven years, beginning in late 1980.

Hinton played several Merl Saunders tributes since the keyboardist's death in October 2008.[9][10][11] A re-launch of the Rainforest Band as a tribute to Saunders took place at the 29th Starwood Festival on July 25, 2009, the site of their last performance. The tribute featured Hinton with Saunder's son and bassist Tony Saunders, Sikiru Adepoju and other members of the Rainforest Band and Saunders' projects.[12]

Performed or recorded with

Television appearances and works

Discography

  • I Ain't No Angel – Lindy Gravelle (1982)
  • Don't Slander MeRoky Erickson (Restless, 1986)
  • You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best Of Roky Erickson (Restless, 1991)
  • It's In The AirMerl Saunders & the Rainforest Band (Sumertone, 1993)
  • Still Having Fun – Merl Saunders (Sumertone, 1995)
  • Fiesta Amazonica – Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band (Sumertone, 1998)
  • Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends - Live (Sumertone,1998)
  • Still Groovin – Merl Saunders (Sumertone, 2004)
  • San Francisco After Dark – Merl Saunders
  • A Promise Kept – Jim McPherson (2009)
  • Keystone RevisitedTony Saunders, Bill Vitt, Steve Abramson, Jeff Pevar (2013)
  • Sonoma Soundtrack – Schellville Southside Blues Band
  • Joan Baez (unreleased tracks) – produced by Mickey Hart featuring members of the Grateful Dead and High Noon (2001)

Filmography

Scores

DVDs

  • Saunders & Friends by John Metzger – The Music Box, November 1998, Volume 5, #11[14]
  • Chet Helms: Tribal Stomp (with Country Joe McDonald and Friends)
  • 2B1 Multimedia

Laser disc

  • A Tribute To Jerry Garcia: Deadhead Festival in Tokyo, Japan, 1997 – Japanese Laser Disc NTSC - VAP Video Super Rock series VPLR-70650 (1997–98)

References

  1. ^ a b "It's in the Air - Merl Saunders - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Grateful Dead Family Discography: Fiesta Amazonica". Deaddisc.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Artist". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  4. ^ "In Music We Trust - Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends: LIVE!". Inmusicwetrust.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Michael Borbridge". Michaelborbridge.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Various Artists: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia - Deadheads Festival, Japan 1997". Theband.hiof.no. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Remembering Merl Saunders 02/14 Great American/SF". Jambase.com. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Hillbilly Music: January 2006Hillbilly-Music.com - Home of Old-Time Country Music". Hillbilly-music.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  9. ^ Metzger, John. "Merl Saunders - Garcia Tribute - Leadville - August 1996 (Concert Review)". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  10. ^ Photo of Mike Hinton at Merl Saunders' 75th Birthday Bash Archived 2009-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Great American Music Hall Website
  12. ^ "Reprinted from Modern Drummer Magazine, June 2009". Rosencomet.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Stacy's Knights (1982) | Movies". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  14. ^ John Metzger. "Merl Saunders - Fiesta Amazonica, Keepers, Funky Friends, Twilight Zone (Album Review)". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved 2013-08-06.