Biography

Contact: Michael Weiskopf - 646-206-7683
Blue Highway Insomnia Music
mmddw@hotmail.com

Booking
Michael Weiskopf - Music@michaelweiskopf.com

Contact information:
michael weiskopf
music@michaelweiskopf.com

Click here to go to Michael Weiskopf - Suffering Folls

Click here to go to Michael Weiskopf - Love and Entropy


Release Date - 7/15/2018

"Lost in AmeriKa - 9 1/2 Stories" is my fourth album of mostly original material. My objective as in the first three was to create a work that has a concept and so the songs have a common theme in that they are mostly all "story songs" and so the title. I realize that it is a lot to ask a listener to give the work the kind of active listening required to appreciate what i am trying to say with these songs but i think the reward is there in both the lyrics and music.

Although i have classified the album as Americana, there are elements of Folk, Rock, Blues and Jazz in these songs. I was privileged to work with some of the finest musicians and engineers in Miami recording at Criteria Studios, The new state of the art studio at Frost School and at Perfect Sky Music in Coral Gables. The album features supporting work from Steve Rucker, Matt Bonelli and Hal Roland all of who toured with the Bee Gees for a dozen or more years. Damian Sanchez on Saxaphone and Clarinet and my co-producer Steve Bass on several tracks as well as writing a song for me to do on this project. Other musicians that traveled to Florida to help me are my NY band mates, Klyph Black and Randolph Hudson both of whom are very much present on my other three albums. Thanks for reading this far into the story. i hope you dig the tracks.

Musicians:

Michael Weiskopf-Vocals,Acoustic,Nylon Guitars, Harmonica, Synth.
Steve Bass-Bass,Electric,Nylon Guitars, Synth
Klyph Black-Acoustic Slide and Electric Guitars
Randolph Hudson-Electric Guitars, Ebo, Synth
Damian Sanchez-Tenor Saxaphone, Clarinet, Alto Saxaphone
Hal Roland-Yamaha Grand Piano
Matt Bonelli- Upright Bass
Steve Rucker-Drums, Percussion
Joe Delia-Keyboard, Organ
Dan Koontz-Organ
Craig Woloshin-Pedal Steel Guitar
Patricio Acevedo-Cello
Lauren Matzen-Backing Vocals
Jamie Pflug-Backing Vocals

Recorded at-
Criteria Studios, Miami Florida
Frost Music Studios, UM Florida
Perfect Sky, Coral Gables Florida

Produced and Mixed by-
Steve Bass and Michael Weiskopf

Engineered by Ron Tayler (Criteria) Chris Palawitch (Frost) Steve Bass (Perfect Sky)

Mastered by-
Ed Courage-Abbey Road Studios, London, England

Order of Songs on Lost in AmeriKa

1- Wrong Trail Blues (for Weldon Kees)

Songwriter-Mihael Weiskopf (ASCAP)

This song was inspired by the poet Weldon Kees who was part of the Beat Poet scene in San Francisco. Nobody knows if he committed suicide or disappeared into Mexico in the early 60s. His car was found at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. His body was never found and there were no notes.

Michael Weiskopf-Vocals-Acoustic Guitars
Klyph Black-Slide Guitar
Steve Bass-Electric Bass

Recorded at Perfect Sky Music, Coral Gables
Produced and Mixed by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered by Ed Courage at Abbey Road Studios, UK

2- It Don't Bother Me

Songwriter-Michael Weiskopf (ASCAP)

Written the day after the election of 2016. The song speaks for itself.

Songwriter: Michael Weiskopf-646-206-7683
Blue Highway Insomnia Music
music@michaelweiskopf.com
michaelweiskopf.com

Musicians- Michael Weiskopf-Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Matt Bonnelli-Upright Bass
Hal Roland-Piano
Steve Rucker-Drums
Klyph Black-Electric Guitar
Lauren Matzen-Backing Vocal

Recorded at Criteria Studios, Mixed at Perfect Sky Music, Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London,England

3- Tattoo of Jesus (Featured track)

Songwriter- Michael Weiskopf
Blue Highway Insomnia Music
music@michaelweiskopf.com
michaelweiskopf.com


Inspired when i spot a woman with tattoos of both Shakespeare and Jesus. I could not get the image out of my mind and decided that using references to Bible and Shakespeare i could create a song that was essentially a one act play of attempted seduction and rejection.

Recorded at Criteria Studios (the Hit Factory) Miami,
Florida November 2017. Engineered by Ron Taylor (Bellamy Brothers).
Mixed by Steve Bass and Michael Weiskopf.
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, UK.

Copyright: Michael Weiskopf/Blue Highway Insomnia Music 2017

Michael Weiskopf-vocals, Acoustic guitar, Harmonica
Steve Rucker-Drums
Matt Bonelli-Upright Bass
Hal Roland-Concert Grand Piano
Klyph Black-Electric Guitar
Craig Woloshin-Pedal Steel Guitar
Jamie Pflug-Backing Vocal
Lauren Matzen- Background Vocal

Recorded at Criteria Studios (Hit Factory) Miami, Florida, November 2017
Engineered by Ron Taylor (Bellamy Brothers)
Mixed by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, UK

4)Streets of Paris

Songwriter-Michael Weiskopf

Written in Paris May 2017 after a night on the town with my girlfriend. Feeling the spirit of the great writers mentioned and the Beat poets that followed.

Michael Weiskopf-vocals, Acoustic guitar,Harmonica,Synth.
Steve Rucker-Drums/Percussion
Hal Roland-Concert Grand Piano
Matt Bonelli-Upright Bass
Dan Koontz-Organ
Jamie Pflug-Background Vocal


Recorded at Criteria Studios (Hit Factory) Miami, Florida, November 2017
Engineered by Ron Taylor (Bellamy Brothers)
Produced and Mixed by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, UK

5- I Can't Fix You

Songwriter-Michael Weiskopf

I think it applies to relationships and the idea that compatibility depends on mood as much as personality. Although it was not conscious, the line about seeing "red or blue" has an unintended but kind of interesting cultural reference to our divided country.

Musicians-

Michael Weiskopf-Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Damian Sanchez-Tenor Saxaphone
Hal Roland- Yamaha Grand Piano
Steve Bass- Electric Bass
Steve Rucker-Drums
Klyph Black-Electric Guitar
Lauren Matzen-Backing Vocal

Recorded at Criteria Studios (Hit Factory) Miami, Florida, November 2017
Engineered by Ron Taylor (Bellamy Brothers)
Mixed by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, UK

Blue Highway Insomnia Music
music@michaelweiskopf.com
michaelweiskopf.com


6) They Should Have Been Blue

Songwriter- Steve Bass (ASCAP)

Written by co-producer of this CD, Steve Bass, this song tells a story with vivid characters. It reminds me of Bob Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate".
used by permission
Michael Weiskopf-Vocal
Lauren Matzen-Background Vocal
Steve Bass- Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Nylon Guitar,
Joe Delia-Piano, Organ

7) Out To Sea

Songwriter-Evan Frankel (used by permission)

I think that this song fits perfectly with the concept of my album "Lost in AmeriKa". it is a personal story written by my friend Evan Frankel and i have always been moved by it.

Michael Weiskopf-Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Nylon Guitar
Steve Bass-Electric Bass
Craig Woloshin-Pedal Steel Guitar
Klyph Black-Electric Guitar
Damian Sanchez-Tenor Saxaphone
Recorded at Frost School Studios Miami,Florida March 2018
Engineered by Chris Palowitch

8) Much Worse Than it Sounds

Songwriter-Michael Weiskopf

Written December 2017 one year after the 2016 election. comparing how i felt after major surgery on my neck and recalling a bad auto accident and thinking that the analogy of what is happening in our country is comparable to the worst of personal challenges. It is kind of interesting that people from all sides of the political spectrum seem to relate to it even thought that was not necessarily my intent.

Michael Weiskopf-vocals, Acoustic guitar
Damian Sanchez- Soprano Saxaphone
Steve Bass- Electric Bass, Nylon Guitar
Steve Rucker-Drums
Klyph Black-Electric Guitar
Jamie Pflug- Background Vocal
Craig Woloshin- Pedal Steel Guitar

Recorded at Frost School Studios Miami,Florida March 2018
Engineered by Chris Palowitch
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered by Ed Courage at Abbey Road Studios, UK.
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered by Ed Courage at Abbey Road Studios, UK.

9) Opioid

Songwriter-Michael Weiskopf (ASCAP)

Written for a friend's son who was a victim of the Opioid epidemic. in the spirit of the album attempting to tell his story from inside his mindset as he left this world.

The song is meant to flow into my cover of one verse of Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" that follows this song at the end of the album but had to be separated do to respecting intellectual rights

Recorded at Perfect Sky Music, Coral Gables Florida March 2018
Engineered by Steve Bass
Mixed by Michael Weiskopf and Steve Bass
Mastered by Ed Courage at Abbey Road Studios, UK

Michael Weiskopf-Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano
Randolph Hudson- III-Ebo, Electric Guitar,synth
Damian Sanchez-Tenor Saxaphone
Steve Bass- Electric Bass
Lauren Matzen-Gardiner's Bay
Dan Koontz-Organ
Patricio Acevedo-Cello

1/2 Chimes of Freedom

Songwriter-Bob Dlyan

i felt that this one verse of a Dylan masterpiece was an appropriate tag for this record.


MICHAEL WEISKOPF BIOGRAPHY

Coming of age in the 60s was a lucky break. It was a turbulent time that was transformative, not only to my world view but also in lifting the gates on the limitations and fears on which many of us were raised.

The music of the time was the doorway to my liberation. It began with access to R&B, the Motown explosion, and then the Folk world which was expressed in the voices of Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Lightening Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Jack Elliott, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Joan Baez. The marriage of Country to Blues to Folk and ultimately Rock and the "British Invasion" made those who tried to define popular music by segment seem out of touch. As these definitions began to blur, so did the barriers between people begin to break down. It was a time of turbulent change that tore down the laws that permitted segregation, dared us to challenge convention, and forced us to question a government that pursued a war which seemed wrong to many of us being told that we had to fight it. I was never content to just listen; I wanted to learn how to express myself with music as my language.

I began learning the guitar and writing songs when I was a kid, but then I put it on hold for many years. Returning to it several years ago, I now spend most of my time writing and recording songs. In this context, it is fair to say that my first CD, Insomnia, was decades in the making. The next one will not take as long.

In addition to my solo work, I am the lead singer of The Complete Unknowns, a band that celebrates the catalog of Bob Dylan. Virtuoso guitarist Randolph Hudson III is a co-founder of the band, and we have been performing for the past five years. I have also been a member of The Lost Keys and The Psychedelic Summer. Both bands celebrate the music of the 60s.

© copyright 2012-2018 Michael Weiskopf - Music