Michael Wittig
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Wittig (b. August 21, 1976) is an American
Christian music
ian who is best known as "Kalel", the former bass
player for the Dove Awards
winning and Grammy
nominated Christian hard rock
band Pillar
. After ten years of playing with Pillar, Wittig left the band in September 2008. He is currently a member of pop rock
band Stars Go Dim
, with Joey Avalos, Lester Estelle Jr. (former drummer for Pillar) and Chris Cleveland.
He graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School
in 1994, and soon left to go to college in Hays, Kansas
at Fort Hays State University. While living there he played bass for a Christian Metal band, Tetelestai, which at some point broke up. Wittig sold his vehicle to some locals and made mention of wanting to start a band. This information was passed along to Robert Debes who became Wittig's roommate. During this time, Wittig became involved in another band, named Mishap. Wittig was introduced to Rob Beckley, a vocalist and Travis Jenkins, a guitar player. They formed Pillar
. After playing with Pillar for ten years, Michael Wittig left the band in September 2008 for multiple reasons.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
ian who is best known as "Kalel", the former bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player for the Dove Awards
GMA Music Awards
The Gospel Music Association Dove Awards are presented annually by the Gospel Music Association for outstanding achievements in the Christian music industry. The awards are usually presented during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, that features performances by a number of the industry's newest...
winning and Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominated Christian hard rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Pillar
Pillar (band)
Pillar is a Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their sixth studio album, Confessions, was released in 2009.- Formation and independent albums :...
. After ten years of playing with Pillar, Wittig left the band in September 2008. He is currently a member of pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band Stars Go Dim
Stars Go Dim
Stars Go Dim is an American pop rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma that formed in late 2007. The band consists of Chris Cleveland , Joey Avalos , Michael Wittig , and Lester Estelle II . They released their first self-titled EP in October 2008...
, with Joey Avalos, Lester Estelle Jr. (former drummer for Pillar) and Chris Cleveland.
Musical career
In 1992 he formed a Christian band in his garage. The band was originally called Q: The Source (named after the Q document), but they eventually renamed it as Godspeed for the release of their self-titled EP. Wittig's fellow Godspeed members were Mahlon Tobias and Robert Brouhard.He graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School
Riverside Polytechnic High School
Riverside Polytechnic High School is a four-year public high school in Riverside, California, United States, and part of the Riverside Unified School District...
in 1994, and soon left to go to college in Hays, Kansas
Hays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University...
at Fort Hays State University. While living there he played bass for a Christian Metal band, Tetelestai, which at some point broke up. Wittig sold his vehicle to some locals and made mention of wanting to start a band. This information was passed along to Robert Debes who became Wittig's roommate. During this time, Wittig became involved in another band, named Mishap. Wittig was introduced to Rob Beckley, a vocalist and Travis Jenkins, a guitar player. They formed Pillar
Pillar (band)
Pillar is a Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their sixth studio album, Confessions, was released in 2009.- Formation and independent albums :...
. After playing with Pillar for ten years, Michael Wittig left the band in September 2008 for multiple reasons.
Personal life
Michael Wittig has two sons and, as of summer 2010, twin daughters and lives with his wife in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.