Edward Scott McMichael
Encyclopedia
Edward Scott McMichael also known as the Tuba Man, was an American tubist
who became well known in Seattle for busking
outside of the city's various sports and performing arts venues during the 1990s and 2000s. McMichael played outside the Kingdome
, KeyArena
, McCaw Hall
, Safeco Field
, and Qwest Field, among other venues.
McMichael was known for playing songs appropriate for the climate of the venue where he was playing, such as "Happy Days Are Here Again
" during the Seattle Mariners
' successful 1995 season
; for adapting mainstream rock and roll songs to the tuba; and for wearing funny, often colorful hats while he played.
. He played in the band at North Seattle Community College
, and in the Seattle Youth Symphony. He also played in the Bellevue Philharmonic, Everett Symphony and Cascade Symphony. A Seattle Youth Symphony scholarship will be established in McMichael's name.
just after midnight. The attackers punched and kicked McMichael as he lay on the ground in the fetal position. He was treated at a hospital, but died November 3, probably the result of "homicidal violence."
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
columnist Robert Jamieson wrote a front page story about McMichael's life and death, while KOMO
1000 commentators Ken Schram
and John Carlson interrupted 2008 election
coverage to organize a memorial fund for McMichael. Seattle Seahawks
officials helped to organize a November 12, 2008 public memorial at Qwest Field Events Center that was attended by 1,500 people.
Three teenagers—Kenneth Kelly, Billy Chambers, and Ja'Mari Jones—were sentenced to detention in connection with the death of McMichael.. One was sentenced to serve up to 36 weeks, and the other two were sentenced to serve up to 72 weeks, including the time already spent in custody (about 24 weeks). The two other suspects have not been found and their whereabouts are unknown. In regard to the two at-large suspects, the Seattle Police Department's morning press release stated: "Unfortunately, the only description that we have is that the suspects were black males in their mid-teens."
The webmaster of The Tuba Man website (www.TerryHenderson.com) created and maintains this site in honor of McMichael's memory. It celebrates the legacy of his music, and also has links to related local events. Terry Henderson, local organizer of the April 14, 2009 Safeco Field event, offered locals an opportunity to get involved.
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
who became well known in Seattle for busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
outside of the city's various sports and performing arts venues during the 1990s and 2000s. McMichael played outside the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
, KeyArena
KeyArena
KeyArena at Seattle Center , is a multipurpose arena, in Seattle, Washington. It is located north of downtown in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition...
, McCaw Hall
McCaw Hall
The Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is a performance hall and opera house, located in Seattle, Washington. Inaugurated in June 2003, it was constructed within the basic steel support structure of the earlier Seattle Opera House, originally created for the World's Fair in 1962 and gutted for this...
, Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
, and Qwest Field, among other venues.
McMichael was known for playing songs appropriate for the climate of the venue where he was playing, such as "Happy Days Are Here Again
Happy Days Are Here Again
"Happy Days Are Here Again" is a song copyrighted in 1929 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen and published by EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc./Advanced Music Corp...
" during the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
' successful 1995 season
1995 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 1995 season was the 19th in the history of the franchise. The team finished with a regular season record of 79–66, tying the California Angels for first in the American League West...
; for adapting mainstream rock and roll songs to the tuba; and for wearing funny, often colorful hats while he played.
Early life
McMichael graduated in the mid-1970s from King's Garden High SchoolKing's High School
King's High School is a private, non-denominational Christian school, located in Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle. It enrolls approximately 470 students in 9th through 12th grade...
. He played in the band at North Seattle Community College
North Seattle Community College
North Seattle Community College is a two-year community college in Seattle, Washington. It is one of the three colleges comprising the Seattle Community College District , and one of the 32 member colleges of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges system.Founded in 1970, NSCC is...
, and in the Seattle Youth Symphony. He also played in the Bellevue Philharmonic, Everett Symphony and Cascade Symphony. A Seattle Youth Symphony scholarship will be established in McMichael's name.
Death
According to police, on October 25, 2008, a group of youths beat and robbed McMichael near Seattle CenterSeattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
just after midnight. The attackers punched and kicked McMichael as he lay on the ground in the fetal position. He was treated at a hospital, but died November 3, probably the result of "homicidal violence."
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
columnist Robert Jamieson wrote a front page story about McMichael's life and death, while KOMO
KOMO (AM)
KOMO is a radio station based in Seattle, Washington. Its format is primarily news. From 2003 to 2008, it was also the flagship station of the Seattle Mariners Radio Network...
1000 commentators Ken Schram
Ken Schram
Ken Schram is a Seattle, Washington news and radio broadcaster. Best known as the host for local-affairs show Town Meeting, Schram can now be seen giving tidbits on KOMO 4’s evening news in segments called “Schram on the Street.” For several years he hosted a radio show, The Commentators, on...
and John Carlson interrupted 2008 election
United States general elections, 2008
The 2008 United States general elections were held on November 4. The result was a significant victory for the Democratic Party on the national level, as they increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain in the...
coverage to organize a memorial fund for McMichael. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
officials helped to organize a November 12, 2008 public memorial at Qwest Field Events Center that was attended by 1,500 people.
Three teenagers—Kenneth Kelly, Billy Chambers, and Ja'Mari Jones—were sentenced to detention in connection with the death of McMichael.. One was sentenced to serve up to 36 weeks, and the other two were sentenced to serve up to 72 weeks, including the time already spent in custody (about 24 weeks). The two other suspects have not been found and their whereabouts are unknown. In regard to the two at-large suspects, the Seattle Police Department's morning press release stated: "Unfortunately, the only description that we have is that the suspects were black males in their mid-teens."
The webmaster of The Tuba Man website (www.TerryHenderson.com) created and maintains this site in honor of McMichael's memory. It celebrates the legacy of his music, and also has links to related local events. Terry Henderson, local organizer of the April 14, 2009 Safeco Field event, offered locals an opportunity to get involved.
Follow Up
It was reported on June 28, 2011 that Billy Chambers, convicted as a juvenile of the 2008 slaying of Seattle street musician Ed "Tuba Man" McMichael, is back behind bars, this time for allegedly deliberately ramming a woman's car. Chambers, 18, was arrested by Seattle police last week after a woman said that he intentionally struck her car. Chambers was charged in King County Superior Court on Tuesday with second-degree assault and hit and run.External links
- "Violence takes iconic Tuba Man" Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle Post-IntelligencerThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, November 4, 2008. - "A people's tribute to a beloved Tuba Man" Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 7, 2008.
- www.TerryHenderson.com http://www.TheTubaMan.com Official web site