I was born in Chicago. My father owned a couple of music stores on the north side. It was there that I discovered big band, jazz and blues. Although I was too young to get into the blues joints, I used to hang out on the south side (Maxwell Street, Theresa's and Chess Records) to listen to the blues men (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walker Jacobs, Willie Dixon).
When I found folk music, my attention switched to the near north side clubs on Wells, Rush and State streets (Gate of Horn, Fickle Pickle, Old Town School of Folk Music) where I found new influences (Bob Gibson, Hamilton Camp, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Stu Ramsay).
I started playing in folk clubs (coffee houses) when I was sixteen. At seventeen, I joined a group called “The Contemporariesâ€. The Contemporaries were the resident band at The Lumber Mill (formerly Dolan's) and the opening act for some great names, including: John Denver, Dolan Ellis, Bud & Travis, Judy Collins, Carolyn Hester, Tom Paxton and others. After hours at The Lumber Mill would find acts like The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters, Chad Mitchell Trio and others stopping by, after playing their gigs in the large venue auditoriums, to jam.
In 1965, The Contemporaries signed a contract with RCA and recorded an album, but it was not successful. I then decided that I wanted to go back to being a solo act and started playing the folk club circuit, including: The Mews, The Boboquivari, The Exodus, Mythical Beast, Vanguard, Twelfth of Never, Howling Owl, The Second Fret, Cafe Wha?, Fickle Pickle, The Old Mill, The Cellar Door, Blues Alley, and many others.
I stopped playing altogether in the mid 70’s and focused my energy on my career in the music and motion picture distribution industries. Several years ago, I picked up my guitar (for the first time in almost 30 years) and started to play again.
Currently I am working on recording my second CD of original songs (No Regrets: Songs of Life & Love). These songs cover a variety of musical styles, including: Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Ragtime & Jazz.
Although I no longer have any ambition to play gigs, I do enjoy and appreciate the multitude of music venues here in Portland (and in the Pacific Northwest) and I am in awe of the local talent. I am so fortunate that some of these superbly talented musicians have been willing to work with me in the recording of my music.
Michael Lightbourne - The Early Years
