Tell me more Michael Fair
Born: May 30, 1957 in St. Paul Minnesota
Education: Middle Tennessee State University
Favorite food: Sea bass
Favorite book: No Easy Day
Favorite movies: It's A Wonderful Life, On Any Sunday
Favorite drink: Crown Royal Black over ice or 12 year old Scotch
Favorite tool: Sears torque wrench
Favorite TV shows: The Good Doctor, This is Us
Pets: A Dog, Summer, Four cats,Rocky, Slinky, Turbo and Maggie ( see Music “Where's Maggie?”)
Favorite Cities: Bozeman, Montana and Greenville, South Carolina
Who influenced you? Herb Alpert, Chuck Mangione, Chet Baker
What type of flugelhorns do you play? Yamaha YFH-631 and a Yamaha YFH-631oz
What type of mouthpiece do you use? Schilke 14F4
What type of trumpet do you play? Bach 43 bell large bore reverse lead pipe and 1954 Martin Committee Trumpet
What type of mouthpiece do you use? Schilke 14A4A Bach 3C
What is that little trumpet? ( a frequently asked question at gigs) A pocket trumpet!
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Q: When did you discover your love for the trumpet?
A: When I was twelve years old listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. The song was "The Lonely Bull". I loved the sound of the instrument and knew I wanted to emulate Herb Alpert's playing.
Q: Why do you prefer to write and record smooth jazz?
A: To me the groove and the tone are as important to make a musical statement as are the changes. Smooth jazz to me leans heavily upon the groove and the sound and that's what moves me.
Q: What is the story on your co-writer Brandon Barnes?
Image: www.shannonfontaine.com
A: Brandon is a multi Grammy nominated writer I met in Nashville twenty years ago right after the release of Brian McKnight’s first CD which Brandon had co-written a number tunes on. Brandon heard me play, loved the sound of my flugelhorn and approached me about doing a smooth jazz record. The rest is history.
Q: What CD are you listening to right now?
A: Trammel Starks, Jet Stream
Q: Who are some of the artists you have shared the stage with?
A: Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Larry Carlton, Olivia Newton John, Claude McKnight, Jim Horn, Amy Grant, Beth Nielsen-Chapman, Kirk Whalum, Sam Cooke, Victor Wooten, John Hiatt, Donna Summer, Greg Allman, Gary Puckett, Carman, Lee Greenwood and Leon Russell
Q: What are your interests other than music?
A: Motorcycles (I own BMWs and a Honda) travel, home improvement, and R/C planes