Michael Huey
Background information
Born (1950-10-24) October 24, 1950
Bowdon, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1969–present
Websitehueytunes.com

J. Michael Huey (born October 24, 1950) is an American drummer and producer. He has played with a diverse group of artists in genres including Rock/Pop/Country/R&B such as Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Juice Newton, Etta James, and Lindsey Buckingham. Huey is also noted for his work on film and television soundtracks as well as numerous world tours with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees.[1] He has also worked as a record producer for major record labels including MCA and Warner Bros.

Early career

Michael Huey started playing the drums while in high school playing in regional bands in Georgia most notably The Kenningtons and 8-Up With Soul who performed at local dance clubs and small venues. In 1969 the Atlanta music manager Johnny Bee encouraged Huey to audition for the pop singer Tommy Roe whose song "Dizzy" had become a worldwide hit that year.[2] The audition was a success and Roe, who was signed to the Bill Lowery Organization, hired Huey to play drums on his national 'Dizzy' tour.

Atlanta years

After the 'Dizzy' tour had ended Huey returned to playing smaller venues. The saxophone player Grainger "Brother" Hines of The Swingin' Medallions ("Double Shot of My Baby's Love") was in an Atlanta bar where Huey was performing and invited Huey to play drums for The Swingin' Medallions; Huey accepted and replaced Ron Nobles.[1] The Swingin' Medallions were also represented by Bill Lowery.

In 1970 Huey played drums on tracks from the album Color Him Father by The Winstons.[1] In 1971 he became the drummer for the Classics IV and during this period was also hired as staff drummer for the Lowery Group. Huey's earlier work for The Winstons led to his involvement with the Allen Toussaint produced 1974 album Frankie Miller's Highlife by Frankie Miller.[3] As the staff drummer for Lowery Studios, Huey played drums on numerous sessions most notably for Johnny Nash, Billy Joe Royal, The Tams, Joe South, Clarence Carter, Mylon LeFevre, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) and Sami Jo.[3]

Los Angeles years

In 1976, Michael Huey moved to Los Angeles where he played drums on recording sessions as well as world tours for Walter Egan (including the hit single "Magnet and Steel"), Michael Martin Murphey, Johnny Lee, Chris Hillman of The Byrds, Gene Clark of The Byrds, Joanne Mackell, The Osmonds, Blue Steel, Rob Grill of The Grass Roots, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Juice Newton and many other artists.[3]

In 1981, the producer and arrranger Jim Ed Norman hired Huey to play drums on Glenn Frey's (The Eagles) first solo album, No Fun Aloud, which produced the Top 10 hits "Party Town" and "I Found Somebody". Huey continued to work with Frey for the next twelve years providing the drums on all of his solo records including the hits "Smuggler's Blues" and "You Belong to the City" from the album The Allnighter. Both tracks were featured on the NBC television series Miami Vice as well as appearing on the Miami Vice soundtrack album which stayed at #1 on the Billboard charts for eleven weeks in 1985. The soundtrack sold over five million copies and won two Grammy Awards making it the most successful TV soundtrack album of all time.[4][5]

Michael Huey also played on the feature films Beverly Hills Cop, Back to the Future, Boogie Nights, Deuce Bigalow, Sgt. Bilko and Overnight Delivery.

He appeared in concert with Joe Walsh, Etta James and Albert Collins as part of the Jazzvisions series of concerts filmed at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles in December 1986 which was subsequently released on video and CD under the title "Jump The Blues Away".[6][7]

The HBO Special: "Vietnam Veterans Benefit Concert, LA Forum: Featuring Joe Walsh, Bonnie Raitt, and Friends"[8]

Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Records & Tours): Glenn Frey (The Eagles); Joe Walsh (Eagles); Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac); Etta James; Albert Collins; Chris Hillman (Byrds); Gene Clark (Byrds); Allen Toussaint (Producer/Songwriter); Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) ; ; ;

Georgia Music Hall of Fame (Records & Tours): Tommy Roe; Joe South; The Tams; The Classics IV; Clarence Carter; Billy Joe Royal; Ray Whitley; Mylon LaFevre; Bill Lowery; Paul Cochran.

In 1992, Michael Huey retired from his career as a musician and attended UCLA School of Law. In 1994 he started his own music publishing and production company called HueyTunes.

Music producer and arranger

Michael Huey produced and arranged, as well as played drums on the critically acclaimed album So Rebellious A Lover (1987) for Gene Clark (The Byrds) and Carla Olson (The Textones).[9] Huey also produced the Re-Mastered Collectors' Edition CD released in 2009.[10]

In 1985 Huey was hired to produce and arrange the music for two of the 'Miller Genuine Draft' NBA Semi-Finals and Championship Series (Lakers v Celtics) CBS National TV / Radio advertising campaigns.

In 1990 Huey co-produced The Best of Tommy Roe: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow which was released on the Curb Mod Afw label.

Michael Huey has worked as a producer and arranger for the following companies:

  • MCA/Universal Records
  • Capitol Records
  • Curb Records
  • Warner Brothers Records
  • Rhino Records
  • Fuel Records
  • Miller Corporation
  • Razor and Tie Records
  • Rockin' House Entertainment[10]

Recordings (partial list)

YearAlbumArtistCredit
1970The WinstonsThe WinstonsDrums
1974Frankie Miller's High LifeFrankie MillerDrums
1974High Life (Bonus tracks)Frankie MillerDrums
1974It Could Have Been MeSami JoDrums
1974Third Annual Pipe DreamAtlanta Rhythm SectionPercussion
1975Loneliness and TemptationClarence CarterPercussion
1975A Heart Full of SongClarence CarterPercussion
1975Love TripTamiko JonesDrums
1975Midnight RainbowsJoe SouthDrums
1975Pat Terry GroupPat TerryDrums, Percussion
1975The Very Best of Classics IVClassics IVDrums
1977All I Want to DoLee ConwayDrums
1977Plain and FancyThe Bellamy BrothersDrums
1977What a Wonderful WorldJohnny NashDrums
1978Joanne MackellJoanne MackellDrums
1978Magnet & SteelWalter EganDrums, Percussion
1978Not ShyWalter EganDrums, Percussion
1979Hi-FiWalter EganDrums, Percussion
1979No More Lonely NightsBlue SteelDrums
1979UprootedRob GrillDrums
1980Best of the Pat Terry GroupPat TerryDrums
1980Last StrollWalter EganDrums, Percussion
1981Nothing But TimeBlue SteelDrums
1982The Heart Never LiesMichael Martin MurpheyDrums
1982No Fun AloudGlenn FreyDrums
1982Sounds Like LoveJohnny LeeDrums
1983Best of Michael Martin MurpheyMichael Martin MurpheyDrums
1983Wild ExhibitionsWalter EganDrums, Percussion
1984One Way RiderThe OsmondsDrums
1984The AllnighterGlenn FreyDrums
1985Miami Vice (Smugglers Blues)Glenn FreyDrums
1985Rock Breakout YearsGlenn FreyDrums
1985Back to the Future (Film/Soundtrack)Lindsey BuckinghamDrums
1985TodayThe OsmondsDrums
1986Overnight Delivery (Film/Soundtrack)Original SoundtrackDrums
1986Miami Vice (You Belong to the City)Glenn FreyDrums
1987Lonely TownTom KellDrums
1987So Rebellious a LoverGene Clark/Carla OlsonProducer, Drums, Percussion
1988Sergeant Bilko (Film/Soundtrack)Original SoundtrackDrums
1989Jump the Blues AwayEtta JamesDrums
1989Jump the Blues AwayJoe WalshDrums
1989Jump the Blues AwayAlbert CollinsDrums
1989Deuce Bigalow (Film/Soundtrack)Original SoundtrackDrums
1990Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (The Best of Tommy Roe)Tommy RoeProducer, Drums, Percussion
1995Solo CollectionGlenn FreyDrums
1995Solo Collection (Japanese Bonus track)Glenn FreyDrums
1995Wave of the HandCarla OlsonDrums, Producer
1995After the LoveVarious ArtistsDrums
1997Boogie Nights (Film/Soundtrack)Original SoundtrackDrums
1998Flying HighGene ClarkProducer, Drums, Percussion
2000Best of Glenn FreyGlenn FreyDrums
2000So Rebellious a Lover (Collectors Edition Re-Mastered)Gene Clark/Carla OlsonProducer, Drums, Percussion
2001Honest as Daylight: The Best of Carla Olson (1981–2000)Carla OlsonProducer, Drums, Percussion
2005Fundamental Roll/Not ShyWalter EganDrums, Percussion
2005Third Annual Pipe Dream: A Rock and Roll AlternativeAtlanta Rhythm SectionConga, Percussion
2005Hi-Fi/The Last StrollWalter EganDrums, Percussion
2009Best Of Johnny NashJohnny NashDrums, Percussion
2010The CollectionWalter EganDrums, Percussion

Source[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Haynes, Greg (2006). The Hey Baby Days of Beach Music. Rare Reads Publishing. ISBN 0-9786047-0-9.
  2. "Tommy Roe Chart History". Billboard rankings. Billboard.com. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Michael Huey Credits". Website. All Music. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  4. Eliot, Marc (1998). To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles. Da Capo Press. pp. 341–344. ISBN 0-306-81398-X.
  5. "Top Music Albums week of Jan. 18, 1986". Billboard chart. Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  6. Jazzvisions Wiltern Concerts Article at Los Angeles Times. Published November 28, 1986. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  7. Rebecca D. Clear (1993). Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress. DIANE Publishing. pp. 77–. ISBN 978-0-7881-1436-6. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. "Solo, History". Website. HueyTunes website. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  9. Einarson, John (2005). Mr. Tambourine Man: the Life and Legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark. 265-266: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-793-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. 1 2 "Solo, Production". Website. Huey Tunes. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
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