Please go to my myspace blog on the upper right of this page and you can read what I wrote about my best friend and bandmate for almost 30yrs. We first became bandmates in 1981 after the BBHC Janis Joplin days.
Ron Sheehy - Mitch Master and former Bass player for Mitch and Lead Guitarist for Janis Joplin - James Gurley (Oct 2006)
James Gurley in his studio 2007 . This is were I played from 1981 -2000 with him and his son Adam who is a great drummer. In this picture James Gurley holds a CD that he made from an early 1960s audition tape that Janis Joplin gave him. Gurley never had played Joplin's reel-to-reel tape but rediscovered it decades later, he had the only such tape in existence.
(AP Photo/The Desert Sun, Wade Byars)
Mitch Master Live New years 2006-Thailand
Mitch playing with Thai musicians a few days after the the Tsunami hit Thailand. Fortunately Mitch Master's house was untouched.
Sounds Like
Mitch Master
Mitch Master jamming in Surat Thani Thailand
One of the beautiful beaches in Mitch's village in Thailand, there are many including Thailand's best islands which are just minutes away by boat.
Mitch McKendry who is Mitch Master is known for being the lead guitarist for Janis Joplin's guitarist James Gurley in there band "Red Robin and The Worms" (1982) also playing lead guitar on James Gurley CD "Saint James "Pipe Dreams" (2000) and for Mitch's own solo album Mitch Master "How About You" released in 2006. The song "How About You" was on Neil Young's Top 10 Picks list on "Living with War Today" for over a year and the video was Number 1 over 14 times in 2007 on Neil Young's list.
Mitch Mckendry was born in Hollywood California and has traveled and played all over the world, he is now living in Thailand. Mitch was given his stage name Mitch Master in 1981 from James Gurley.
Mitch started playing the organ and clarinet by ear at the age of 5. At 11 yrs he started playing guitar on a old guitar that could be used as a cheese slicer the action was so high. Mitch took Classical guitar lessons on that cheese slicer for about 6 months and was starting to read music but he said it was so hard to play that guitar he stopped the lessons.
When Mitch was 13 a friend showed Mitch some blues scales and his father bought him a electric guitar (Tesco Del Ray) for 19 bucks at Thrifty Drug store and a Sears and Roebucks all in one amp in the guitar case at the swap meet, that's all it took, he taught himself how to rock and went on his own at 16.
Mitch starting playing guitar in the hopes if he got good enough he could entertain in Vietnam if he was drafted. When Mitch started playing the USA was at war with Vietnam, all he was seeing was all the boys a little older than him being drafted.
Mitch turned 18 the war was over, they stop the draft and he ended up going to Jamaica to play. Mitch arrived in Jamaica and he was taken up to a man house he never heard of before named " Bob Marley" The song Rasta Mon written by Mitch McKendry is about that night when Bob Marley's Witch Doctor was preaching to Mitch about his situation and opinions on whats going on in Jamaica and the world.
Mitch joined Red Robin and the Worms a new wave band in 1981 - Robin Reed vocals- Jim Holt played the Sax , Hongo Gurley now Adam Riesman (James Gurley son) on Drums and James Gurley on the Bass, at that time James Gurley gave Mitch Mckendry his stage name Mitch Master. Mitch also played lead guitar on his most recent CD Pipe Dreams. Mitch and James were band mates but more importantly they remained best friends for just about 30 years, rare in the music biz. James Gurley passed away Dec-20-2009 from a heart attack, few days before his 70th birthday, RIP James Gurley.
Red Robin and the Worms played together from 1981-1984.
1990 Mitch was the finalist out of 1500 guitarist at the Guitarist of The Year competition at West La Music.He was busy in Nashville when the finals took place and could not come back for the finals.
Mitch has played with many artist in his career. Ginger Baker of The Cream ask Mitch to play with him at his 50th Birthday Bash in West Los Angeles. Mitch Jammed with Ginger Baker that night and also played with other such as Edgar Winter, Randy California and many other musicians.
Mitch McKendry ended up working solo under the name Mitch Master and has toured the USA, Jamaica, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Mitch recorded his CD Mitch Master - "How About You" in Thailand in 2006. The song and music video "How About You" made Neil Young's Living With War Today Top Ten Picks for protest song's and stayed on the Top Ten for over a year. His music video went to number 1 and made that spot over 14 times in 2007-2008 and the song hit number one as recent as 1-12-09. The songs are playing on No Lies Radio out of the San Fransisco Bay area and you can hear Mitch's interview and great music from other artist, the link is on this page, upper left under 2nd paragraph.
Mitch Master been touring South East Asia since 2001.
Mitch has met many famous people in his life from music, sports, politics etc. Its been interesting for him meeting people from Bob Marley to the Clinton family, even was a driver for Gen Colin Powell for 2 days. His family was very good friends with Don Randell who was the main man behind the scenes for Leo Fender and Don was one of the the men responsible for making Fender the name it is today. Don was the man who gave the name to the Stratocaster, Telecaster etc. Don Randell passed away in Dec 2008 R.I.P. Don.
The music you hear is all Mitch Master and his Stratocaster and Keyboards, recorded in Thailand.
Thank you all for stopping by Mitch Master's MySpace.
Written by Shane Green PLTT Music
Oh Yeah Mitch playing the blues on his Telecaster to his new blues song, "Texas Way" coming to you from his music studio in South Thailand. Video provided to you by You Tube yesmon4real.
Little Wing (My Flight) Mitch's version of the song, the way his soul feels it. Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix, arranged and played by Mitch McKendry. This video is coming to you from his music studio in South Thailand. Video provided to you by You Tube yesmon4real.
Video provided to you by You Tube yesmon4real
Mitch Master playing his guitar solo to his song Jamaica.This video is coming to you from his music studio in South Thailand. Video provided to you by You Tube yesmon4real.
Sorry for not having been in touch awhile - been rather busy! Just wanted to say that your valued friendship continues to be appreciated. Have you checked out my MySpace and web site (www.faberoptime.com) recently? Oh and did you subscribe for my free newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!)? You might also like to take a look at some of my vids on my YouTube channel too! www.youtube.com/faberoptime Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
Hello Mitch, I was sorry to hear about Jim, but I guess one more birthday was not meant to be. I am glad he had a friend like you to be able to rely on while he was on this earth. You gave him a good excuse to take trip to Thailand! I like to think about humor in life. You must admit that one of your favorite bands had a couple of Gurley men in it and that was quite alright, right? I hope you can remember many good times and help to keep his memory alive. My best condolences to you and to all of the family. RIP James. Sincerely, Lawrence Mark
Season's Greetings Mitch! I am getting started early, because it has already snowed once here in Spread Eagle, WI... and that was before Halloween! Did I tell you that I went to Chicago and auditioned for the America's Got Talent TV show? I had a blast! It was a long and tedious day, but I finally got in there and sang for about 20 seconds. I was first in a group of 5 people. The guy there told me to stop and sing something else. Then he told me to stop again. He called me back in for a second audition and told me that he liked my story too! I feel like I won already! Haha! You see Mitch, I broke my back in Chicago working on the McCormick Place expansion project way back in 1985. I told them I wanted to pay off old debts and then I hope to marry my high school sweetheart if I do get a chance to win this thing. Who knows what can happen? I find out in January whether or not they want me to audition again. I will keep you posted! I hope everything is safe and happy over there for you. I started a fan page on hi5 for MAGICMAD. I have a lot of Thai friends on there now! I am wondering where you are exactly. I could let Thai friends know where to go and see you perform! I get a newsletter from Thai Visa. I have to get Google Earth on this PC so I can fly over and see if you are being a good boy this year!! Hohoho! Good to hear from you Mitch! If I win the million bucks, maybe then I can fly over for real too! I want to see Pattaya Beach! Please be careful, my friend. I send love to you and to all you love! Sincerely, Lawrence Mark Ps... I had you in top friends for a long time, but just today I was trying to move people around and I could not make it work right! I hope you checked before my friends list got wrecked! I have your youtube video "Rasta" on my profile. When I get these myspace cookies all lined up, I am not going to delete any of them again! More later!
Blessing Da Place With Love, Much Thanks For The Link Just Keep It Strong! When You Get The Chance Don't Be A Stranger To Forward To My Page And Listen To New Singles From My Upcoming Debut Album! Guidance, Love n Light Jah Bless
Hey Mitch! - great to hear from ya, man. Yep, busy enough here.. plenty of gigs right now, our leader's working hard to keep us workin! - Played last night at a posh folkclub Ralph McTell etc have played at... we're pretty much on a roll, and sounding good right now... the record's just been mastered, and is due out soon. - Great tracks here on the player, sir... Later, B :-)
Hi everybody, just here to say our new RORY GALLAGHER HAWK BOOSTER is ready for shipping. Have a listen if you get a chance, All the best, Stevie Flynn.
Just stopping by ! You can make me dance , sing or anything (even take the dog for a walk ,mend a fuse , fold away the ironing board , or any other domestic short comings )
Hey there, Here's one from left field... Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat? A while back I came across some very disturbing information, which inspired me to make this video: Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4 Both artistic (ensure you've good enough sound to enjoy the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice. Though the source materials are somewhat aged, the fundamentals remain relevant today. I encourage all to visit the YouTube web page above to learn more (Show your support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly re-post and circulate as widely as possible. Help to raise awareness. Say have you checked out my web site (http://www.faberoptime.com) recently? Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
Thanks for the add! Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people. :) I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site at www.faberoptime.com some time. For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!). Oh and you might like to take a look at some of my vids on my YouTube channel too! www.youtube.com/faberoptime Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
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