Mike Kowalski

Mike Kowalski (born July 28, 1944) is a drummer, percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the former drummers for the rock band the Beach Boys.

Mike Kowalski
Mike Kowalski in 1998
Background information
Born (1944-07-28) July 28, 1944
OriginHollywood, California, United States
GenresRock, blues, jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, writer, producer
InstrumentsDrums, Piano
Years active'68, '70-'73, '77-'78, '81-'07
Labels
  • Mercury
  • Atco
  • Island
  • Epic
  • RCA
  • Capitol
  • Brother Reprise
  • A&M
  • MCA
  • Warner Bros.
  • Cherry Red
Associated acts

Early career

Mike Kowalski was born in Hollywood, California. He started singing and playing piano at the age of three. His first professional engagement was playing boogie-woogie piano with Mel Torme on drums for a television pilot at the age of five, filmed on location at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco. At age ten, he was given a set of Slingerland Radio-King drums by actor Jack Webb of Dragnet.[1][2]

At the age of fifteen, he was playing drums professionally with various local rock and rhythm and blues bands. He performed both on stage and on screen as his family was affiliated with the film and television industries. By age nineteen he was playing drums with, L.A. based singers, Pat and Lolly Vegas, whom later formed the pop group Redbone. Also during this time Kowalski performed and recorded with Sonny & Cher, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Etta James.[3]

Kowalski, along with the Vegas Brothers and players from the Wrecking Crew, recorded Sonny Bono's only hit record as a solo artist, without Cher entitled "Laugh At Me". Produced by Sonny Bono and Snuff Garrett. The song reached the Top 10 in the UK, Canada, and the US in August 1965. Kowalski, at age 21, was the drummer on that record.

On January 3, 1968 Kowalski flies to London to join Ed Carter's Rock /Blues band, The New Nadir, with Gary Thain on bass. The New Nadir played the London circuit. The trio shared the bill at the Marquee club with Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, The Nice, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, and Jeff Beck, to name a few. A highlight for Kowalski was at the Speakeasy, when a friend of Carter's sat in with the band. The friend was Jimi Hendrix.

In March, producer Joe Boyd, signed The New Nadir to his production company, Witchseason Productions. The New Nadir recorded three songs for Boyd, written by Carter and Peter Dawkins. In May, the New Nadir disbands. Kowalski and Carter return to Los Angeles, Thain remains in London joining Keef Hartley and later Uriah Heep.

In the winter of 1969, Kowalski and Carter return to London to fulfill their contract to Witchseason. The album they record reflects and combines their passion for Latin Jazz, with Rock and Country

Kowalski played drums on John Martyn, Beverley Martyn, Dudu Pukwana, Mike Heron and Nick Drake's albums, all of the artists were signed to Witchseason Productions. .[1][4]

In 1968 Kowalski met Dawn Aston from Kent, England. They were married in California in 1969.

The Beach Boys and The Backsters

In mid-June 1968, The Beach Boys were in the process of adding a rhythm section and horn section for their upcoming summer tour. Auditions were held in the afternoon in Hollywood at the Moulin Rouge Supper Club on Sunset Boulevard. Bruce Johnston suggested Ed Carter for bass and guitar, Daryl Dragon for keyboards, and Kowalski for percussion and drums. The three auditioned and were hired.

In November, Kowalski was called into the studio to play drums on Dennis Wilson's "All I Want to Do". The song was written and produced by Dennis and was released on the Beach Boys' 20/20 album in 1969.

On October 3, 1970, Kowalski played his first show on drums at the Big Sur Folk Festival in Monterey, CA, filling in for Dennis Wilson, who was filming the movie Two-Lane Blacktop.

In 1971, while on tour on the east coast, Kowalski was again on drums as The Beach Boys performed closing night at Fillmore East, NYC on June 27 and the "Good Vibrations Live Concert in Central Park" on July 2. Wilson was unable to play drums because of a hand injury, although he sang and played keyboards.

After the Central Park Show, the Beach Boys flew back to LA. The next day, Kowalski was on a plane to Tokyo, playing drums with the Johnny Otis Show for a tour of the Far East. He would play drums with Johnny Otis from 1971-1974, juggling dates between both bands. In addition to touring with the Beach Boys and Celebration in 1977 and 1978, Kowalski also recorded three albums on drums and percussion: The Beach Boys M.I.U. Album, Almost Summer with Celebration and Charles Lloyd's Weavings.

In October 1981, Dennis Wilson and percussionist Bobby Figueroa were unable to tour. Kowalski, after a three-year absence from the band, returned to play drums. By the end of the year, Kowalski and Wilson, who was back on drums, were playing Sun City, South Africa for Christmas and New Years. 1982 had Kowalski playing drums for Mike Love's Endless Summer Beach Band (featuring Dean Torrence), and drums and percussion with The Beach Boys. In March 1983, there were two sets of drums on stage, both Kowalski and Wilson played the shows together until Wilson's death on December 28, 1983.

For the next 23 years, Kowalski would tour exclusively with The Beach Boys, playing drums until he parted ways with them in September 2007.[1][2]

In 1984, Kowalski collaborated with Joel Peskin to create The Backsters. They were signed to A & M Records with Herb Alpert as executive producer. Their album, entitled Get on Your Back, featured many seasoned jazz and blues players. Released in early 1985, their first single was "Handclappin".[1][2]

Other bands and performers

Kowalski has played with numerous bands and performers; both as a member of the group and as a session musician. Acts Kowalski has played with include:[5][6][7][8]

Albert CollinsShuggie OtisJim O'Keefe
Nino TempoNick DrakeBilly Hinsche
Mike Adams & The Red JacketsJoe HoustonBig Joe Turner
Roger McGuinnBarry MannJon Lawton
Brian WilsonBumps BlackwellAdrian Baker
Mark AndesJohn Martyn and Beverley MartynDon Peake
Gene VincentCrazy HorseHank Marr
Eddie "Cleanhead" VinsonCaptain and TennilleErnie Knapp
Marie AdamsJoe BoydBobby Figueroa
Bruce JohnstonLeon RussellMike Meros
Chris FarmerLance CarsonSteve Douglas
Mike LeyGeorge WhitsellGary Griffin
Harvey LaneSteve O'ReillyBarry Bastian
John MarxDomenic GenovaPhilip Bardowell
Tay Uhler AKA Eddie SapienGary ChangScott Lipsker
Chris Mancini 'Rock Island'Clark GarmanBobby Jones
Tim BonhommeCarl RadleRod Armstrong
Scott Engel with The Walker BrothersStu Hoffman AKA Barbecue BobDean Torrence
Bobbie GentryLeroy VinnegarAndy Simpkins
Jerry GonzalezHenry VestineWells Kelly
Ron AltbachSoupe BradshawJitter Webb
Joe AngeloJeff FoskettDave Pegg
Probyn GregoryCharlie MusselwhiteLes Johnson
Matt Jardine Carli Muñoz Robert Kenyatta
Randell Kirsch Jim Armstrong Jeff Kaplan
Don Zirilli Paul Harris American Spring
Zoey Zook Steve Kalinich Christian Love
Mt. Rushmore Darrol Schexnayder Elliot Ingber

Discography

A brief list of bands and musicians Kowalski has played with:[5][6][7][8]

  • Pat and Lolly Vegas at the Haunted House (1965) - Pat and Lolly Vegas
  • Louisiana Fog (1968) - Charlie Musselwhite
  • 20/20 (1969) - The Beach Boys
  • Live in London (1969) - The Beach Boys
  • The Road to Ruin (1970) - John & Beverley Martyn
  • Ragtime Cowboy Jew (1970) - Stefan Grossman
  • Bryter Layter (1970) - Nick Drake
  • Freedom Flight (1971) - Shuggie Otis
  • Smiling Men with Bad Reputations (1971) - Mike Heron
  • Surf's Up (1971) - The Beach Boys
  • The Beach Boys in Concert (1973) - The Beach Boys
  • M.I.U. Album (1978) - The Beach Boys
  • Crazy Moon (1978) - Crazy Horse
  • Survivor (1978) - Barry Mann
  • Almost Summer Soundtrack (1978) - Celebration
  • Weavings (1978) - Charles Lloyd
  • Get On Your Back (1984) - The Backsters
  • Still Cruisin' (1989) - The Beach Boys
  • Live & Jumpin' (1997) - The Backsters
  • Symphonic Sounds: Music of the Beach Boys (1998) - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Garden State (2004) - Movie, Various Artists
  • A Postcard From California (2011) - Al Jardine
  • Made in California (2013) - The Beach Boys
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References
  1. "Meet The Beatman - Mike Kowalski » Ventura County Star". Archive.is. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  2. Adrian Peel. "Interview with Mike Kowalski". Suite.io. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  3. "The OC" Beach Band. "About "The OC" Beach Band". Sonicbids.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. "Down The Line: THE NEW NADIR / ME AND THE OTHERS". Garagepunkinc.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. "Mike Kowalski". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. "Mike Kowalski". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. "Mike Kowalski". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. "Mike Kowalski Discography at CD Universe". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

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