Michael blakey
Encyclopedia
Michael Blakey was born on December 8, 1958 in London, England. He is a musician
, record producer
, composer
, songwriter
, arranger
, and music promoter
; noted for his drumming talent and for producing and promoting some of the most successful artists in the world. (sometimes Blakey is incorrectly credited as Michael Blakely, Mike Blakely, or Mike Blakey)
Blakey has worked with many superstar artists including: Tears for Fears
, Dire Straits
, Gloria Gaynor
, Coolio
, Akwid
, Mary J. Blige
, No Doubt
, Mila Mason
, 2Pac, Eminem
, Luther Vandross
, Brian McKnight
, Waylon Jennings
, Willie Nelson
, Engelbert Humperdinck
, Brooke Allison
, Bob Carlisle
, Michelle Wright
and many others. He is also known for his songwriting talents and penned such hit songs as "Will to Power" and "Perfect Chemistry".
Over his career he has created three record labels, been nominated for 5 Grammys, has been awarded 63 gold and platinum records and is attributed with sales of in excess of 100 million albums.
Blakey was the former head of A&R for Atco Records
, co-creator of Platinum Records and Platinum Promotions, as well as co-founder of 2KSounds, which later merged with Virgin Records
, and Blakey was made President of the Music Division.
.
Moving to Spain with his family at the age of 15, he continued his education and became fluent in Spanish. Later he became a studio mainstay at Sonoland in Madrid, where he performed with artists such as Julio Iglesias
and Luis Miguel
and went on to produce some of Europe's top acts, including Radio Cadena Española and Phlox.
His career then moved to Germany (a language in which he is fluent) where he was the in-house producer at Hansa Tonstudio
Berlin, producing such hits as Kreuzberger Nächte, Yes
and Fever.
, Donna Summer
, Tears for Fears
, Blakey became a drummer for the European rock band Tidal Force. The group became famous for the hits “Station to Station” and “A Man Rides Through” and also the big hair each member sported.
Blakey moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and co-founded Big Bear Music with Jon Hey (deceased). This promotion company worked with such artists as Richard Marx
, Steelheart
, Madonna
, Fleetwood Mac
, Tupac
, and many others.
Blakey then started Platinum Records and Platinum Promotions (an independent record label/production and promotions company), producing such artists as Waylon Jennings
, John Berry
, Englebert Humperdinck, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Crystal Gayle, Bob Carlisle and promoting artists such a Nine Inch Nails
, Erykah Badu
, Brian McKnight
, Mary J. Blige
, to name a few. Platinum was later acquired by the Universal group of companies. During his time at Platinum, Blakey – enlisting the help of forensic scientists – developed the technology for Forensic Frequency Separation Software. This revolutionary technique enabled the creation of the Patsy Cline
“Duets” album by allowing a current artist to sing along with the original artist. It was the ability to extract a vocal from a mono track by lifting the individual frequencies within the vocal and keeping it intact. Once extracted, it could be treated as a conventional vocal recording and be placed onto a separate track in a contemporary recording format.
In 1998, Blakey co-founded 2KSounds, which merged in 2002 with Virgin Records
. The great artists produced by this label were the likes of Coolio
, Sam Moore
, Disney’s Cinderella II movie, Mad West, Air Supply
and Brooke Allison
. Blakey was President of the Music Division, until the label was purchased by Big Interactive in 2003.
In early 2009, Blakey teamed up with comedian
Ron White
(Tater Salad, Blue Collar Comedy Tour
) to form Organica Music Group (distributed by Universal Music). This music company (which also produces films and TV) has teamed up with artists such as Margo Rey
, Gladys Knight
(Gladys Knight and the Pips), and Crystal Harris
.
dealership. After enjoying its success, he was approached by the Italian car company, Maserati
, about owning a dealership in England. Blakey saw opportunity in the ailing car company and instead, offered to take it over. Along with three other partners, Blakey purchased the company and acted as Managing Director of Maserati UK LTD. It was later sold to Chrysler
(Chrysler Motor Corporation).
Years later, as a hobby Blakey joined Pylon International Inc. (as co-owner), a private jet company focused on a service oriented approach to luxury jet management, chartering and brokerage based out of Van Nuys, Calif. Pylon was later acquired by IJM Holdings Corporation, the parent company of IJM, in August 2007.
Producer of the Year (Melody Maker is the European equivalent of the Grammys).
He has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for Excellence in Production, Promotion and Marketing in the Entertainment Industry. He has been honored for outstanding achievement by former president George H. W. Bush
. Blakey also has been named promotion “Man of the Year” by Music Beat in 1995.
Blakey is a Fellow member of the British Board of Motor Industries. Blakey was also given the distinction of Honorary Deputy Sheriff in Florida from both Hillsborough and Pasco Counties for outstanding service to the communities.
Michael Blakey was named as one of the "20 Sexiest Musicians in the World" by Melody Maker magazine in the mid 90's as well as was listed in the "Top 10 Sexiest Musicians of All Time" in 1996 by Euro Music magazine.
and Sabian Cymbals.
Drums:
Bass Drum 22”x18”
Floor Tom 18”x16”
Floor Tom 16”x16”
Mounted Toms 15”x15”, 14”x14”, 12”x”8”
Snare 14”x5”
Cymbals:
HH Medium Crash 20"
HH Thin Crash 16"
Hi-Hats 14"
HH Chinese 22"
HH Medium-Thin Crash 16"
HH Medium Ride 22"
Until 1998, Blakey played Paiste
and Zildjian Cymbals. Other drums he has used over the years are Premier
, Simmons
(electronic drum company) and Ludwig
drums. He uses DW kick pedals, Vater
custom made drum sticks, and Attack Drum Heads.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, and music promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
; noted for his drumming talent and for producing and promoting some of the most successful artists in the world. (sometimes Blakey is incorrectly credited as Michael Blakely, Mike Blakely, or Mike Blakey)
Blakey has worked with many superstar artists including: Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
, Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
, Akwid
Akwid
Akwid is an American hip hop group combining hip hop-style vocals with regional Mexican music. An earlier incarnation of the group was known as Juvenile Style...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
, Mila Mason
Mila Mason
Mila Mason is an American country music artist. She made her debut on the country music scene in 1996 with the release of her debut album That's Enough of That, which produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including its title track...
, 2Pac, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
, Brooke Allison
Brooke Allison
Brooke Adams is a pop singer from Fort Worth, Texas who had a minor hit in 2001 with "The Kiss-Off ". She is currently working with the other members of new girl group The Beach Girl5 to release their first singles and album....
, Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle is a Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning American musician who performs Christian music. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, before launching a solo career...
, Michelle Wright
Michelle Wright
Michelle Wright is a Canadian country music artist. She is one of the country's most widely recognized and awarded female country singers of the 1990s, winning the Canadian Country Music Association's Fans' Choice Award twice...
and many others. He is also known for his songwriting talents and penned such hit songs as "Will to Power" and "Perfect Chemistry".
Over his career he has created three record labels, been nominated for 5 Grammys, has been awarded 63 gold and platinum records and is attributed with sales of in excess of 100 million albums.
Blakey was the former head of A&R for Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
, co-creator of Platinum Records and Platinum Promotions, as well as co-founder of 2KSounds, which later merged with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, and Blakey was made President of the Music Division.
Career - Early Life
Michael Blakey started his musical career playing drums; from a very early age he expressed an interest in being a drummer. He asked his parents for a drum set at the age of 5; they initially refused, so he improvised with a set of cookie cans. When he was 10, Blakey was one of the very few accepted for tutelage under Buddy RichBuddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
.
Moving to Spain with his family at the age of 15, he continued his education and became fluent in Spanish. Later he became a studio mainstay at Sonoland in Madrid, where he performed with artists such as Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
and Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri is a Mexican singer. He is widely known only by the name Luis Miguel and is often referred to as "El Sol de México"...
and went on to produce some of Europe's top acts, including Radio Cadena Española and Phlox.
His career then moved to Germany (a language in which he is fluent) where he was the in-house producer at Hansa Tonstudio
Hansa Tonstudio
Das Hansa Tonstudio is a recording studio located on Köthener Strasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany. Amongst English-performing musical acts it used to be known as 'Hansa Studio By the Wall', 'Hansa by the Wall', or 'The Great Hall by the Wall' in reference to the fact that it was...
Berlin, producing such hits as Kreuzberger Nächte, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Fever.
Career - Later life
Michael Blakey spent a few years between the United States and Europe where he continued his passion for music both by performing as a drummer and as a producer. After enjoying success as a drummer with artists such as Gloria GaynorGloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
, Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
, Blakey became a drummer for the European rock band Tidal Force. The group became famous for the hits “Station to Station” and “A Man Rides Through” and also the big hair each member sported.
Blakey moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and co-founded Big Bear Music with Jon Hey (deceased). This promotion company worked with such artists as Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
, Steelheart
Steelheart
Steelheart is a glam metal band based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Formed in 1990, the band is fronted by vocalist Miljenko Matijevic.- Formation :...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, Tupac
Tupac
Tupac is a relatively uncommon male name. Notable people with the name include:*Túpac Inca Yupanqui , tenth Sapa Inca of the Incan Empire*Túpac Amaru , last indigenous leader of the Inca people in Peru...
, and many others.
Blakey then started Platinum Records and Platinum Promotions (an independent record label/production and promotions company), producing such artists as Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, John Berry
John Berry
Sir John Berry was an English naval officer of the Royal Navy, and was in 1675 the captain of the annual convoy to Newfoundland that took place during the years of the colony's founding....
, Englebert Humperdinck, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Crystal Gayle, Bob Carlisle and promoting artists such a Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, to name a few. Platinum was later acquired by the Universal group of companies. During his time at Platinum, Blakey – enlisting the help of forensic scientists – developed the technology for Forensic Frequency Separation Software. This revolutionary technique enabled the creation of the Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
“Duets” album by allowing a current artist to sing along with the original artist. It was the ability to extract a vocal from a mono track by lifting the individual frequencies within the vocal and keeping it intact. Once extracted, it could be treated as a conventional vocal recording and be placed onto a separate track in a contemporary recording format.
In 1998, Blakey co-founded 2KSounds, which merged in 2002 with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The great artists produced by this label were the likes of Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
, Sam Moore
Sam Moore
Samuel David Moore is an American Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues singer who was the tenor vocalist for the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave from 1961 through 1981...
, Disney’s Cinderella II movie, Mad West, Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
and Brooke Allison
Brooke Allison
Brooke Adams is a pop singer from Fort Worth, Texas who had a minor hit in 2001 with "The Kiss-Off ". She is currently working with the other members of new girl group The Beach Girl5 to release their first singles and album....
. Blakey was President of the Music Division, until the label was purchased by Big Interactive in 2003.
In early 2009, Blakey teamed up with comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Ron White
Ron White
Ronald "Ron" White is an American stand up comedian and satirist who has had two Grammy Award-nominations, and is RIAA certified 10x Platinum for CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units...
(Tater Salad, Blue Collar Comedy Tour
Blue Collar Comedy Tour
The Blue Collar Comedy Tour was a comedy troupe featuring Jeff Foxworthy with three of his comedian friends, Bill Engvall, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy, who had replaced fellow comedian Craig Hawksley, who performed in the first twenty shows on the tour...
) to form Organica Music Group (distributed by Universal Music). This music company (which also produces films and TV) has teamed up with artists such as Margo Rey
Margo Rey
Margarita Reymundo is a singer-songwriter known professionally as Margo Rey and/or Miss Margo....
, Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
(Gladys Knight and the Pips), and Crystal Harris
Crystal Harris
Crystal Harris is an American glamour model, singer, and television personality. She was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009. On December 24, 2010, she became engaged to Hugh Hefner, to become his third wife. Harris broke off the engagement on June 14, 2011, five days before their...
.
Notable Extras
Blakey’s other passions include cars and airplanes. After moving back to England from Spain in the early ‘80s, Blakey purchased a PorschePorsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
dealership. After enjoying its success, he was approached by the Italian car company, Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
, about owning a dealership in England. Blakey saw opportunity in the ailing car company and instead, offered to take it over. Along with three other partners, Blakey purchased the company and acted as Managing Director of Maserati UK LTD. It was later sold to Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
(Chrysler Motor Corporation).
Years later, as a hobby Blakey joined Pylon International Inc. (as co-owner), a private jet company focused on a service oriented approach to luxury jet management, chartering and brokerage based out of Van Nuys, Calif. Pylon was later acquired by IJM Holdings Corporation, the parent company of IJM, in August 2007.
Awards
Michael Blakey has been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards and has won Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
Producer of the Year (Melody Maker is the European equivalent of the Grammys).
He has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for Excellence in Production, Promotion and Marketing in the Entertainment Industry. He has been honored for outstanding achievement by former president George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
. Blakey also has been named promotion “Man of the Year” by Music Beat in 1995.
Blakey is a Fellow member of the British Board of Motor Industries. Blakey was also given the distinction of Honorary Deputy Sheriff in Florida from both Hillsborough and Pasco Counties for outstanding service to the communities.
Michael Blakey was named as one of the "20 Sexiest Musicians in the World" by Melody Maker magazine in the mid 90's as well as was listed in the "Top 10 Sexiest Musicians of All Time" in 1996 by Euro Music magazine.
Drums and Other Equipment
Michael Blakey uses Mapex DrumsMapex Drums
Mapex Drums is a drum brand manufactured by KHS Musical Instruments Company of Taiwan. Mapex has been in the drum making industry for over 18 years.-Products:...
and Sabian Cymbals.
Drums:
Bass Drum 22”x18”
Floor Tom 18”x16”
Floor Tom 16”x16”
Mounted Toms 15”x15”, 14”x14”, 12”x”8”
Snare 14”x5”
Cymbals:
HH Medium Crash 20"
HH Thin Crash 16"
Hi-Hats 14"
HH Chinese 22"
HH Medium-Thin Crash 16"
HH Medium Ride 22"
Until 1998, Blakey played Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
and Zildjian Cymbals. Other drums he has used over the years are Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
, Simmons
Simmons
-People:* Adelma Simmons , American author and herbalist* Al Simmons , American baseball player* Allan Simmons , British scrabble player and author* Andrew Simmons , British wrestler...
(electronic drum company) and Ludwig
Ludwig
Ludwig may refer to:* Ludwig , a German name* Ludwig , a German surname* Ludwig , a 1972 film by Luchino Visconti about Ludwig II of Bavaria* Ludwig , a 1977 animated children's series...
drums. He uses DW kick pedals, Vater
Vater
Vater Percussion is an American drumstick and percussion accessory manufacturing company. It was founded by Clarence Vater, and is currently run by his two grandsons Alan and Ron Vater. Although the company began producing sticks in 1956, it did not officially become Vater Percussion until much later...
custom made drum sticks, and Attack Drum Heads.
External links
- Michael Blakey’s Blog
- Michael Blakey at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...