We were lucky to catch up with Michael Ubaldini recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michael , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I always new. When I was a small kid round first grade I just knew I was supposed to write songs and play songs -It was real natural -I did not choose it , It chose me -Beatles ,Hank Williams ,Creedence,Ray Charles ,I was already listening to that and singing and learning guitar.I knew I was supposed to before I could do it.knowing I could do it.I wrote stories and won awards .I didn’t know what that even meant -Music and writing was something that was as natural as breathing to me.
Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Like i said I knew I was supposed to do what I do without knowing why -The first song I ever learnt was ‘Jambalaya’ by Hank Williams -the second was ‘What I’d Say’ by Ray Charles my dad showed me those and ,folk songs like On Top Of Old Smoky -The next step was to form a band- All the while becoming A musical explorer -discovering music exploring the stuff that moved me. Blues ,Country,Rock n roll, old folk songs – this is all between ages 7-12.I remember seeing a Creedence Clearwater documentary when I was a little kid that ran for 5 straight days on local TV which was the Oakland coliseum concert with bio in between ,them rehearsing-Booker T and The MG’S jamming with them and radio interviews.No one remembers seeing it, I heard the masters were destroyed of the film. That inspired me down the line to start my first band The Earwigs in 78′ and that was my step into the so called music industry — speaking of that CCR bio I came across a bootleg copy in the 90s -I was on a mission to find it .A guy had in the mid west on VHS and my friend got a copy from him for me -No You Tube back in the late 80s early 90s .Its on You Tube now
When Punk rock hit -that first wave -the only Punk rock to me worth anything-.The Ramones ,Johnny Thunders ,Sex Pistols ,The first Clash album later .SLF I dug it.You would lose all your friends for liking that back then . It was no joke .Older kids even adults ,mainstream long hairs or the Hippies who were seeing themselves being replaced becoming less relevant would jump you and try to beat the shit out of you because you cut your hair or put it in a greaser style.The cops would hassle you for walking down the street..There was like 5 or 6 kids in each school that really dug the new music .I was already well versed in the old roots country stuff /Blues ,Rockabilly and Pre war Gospel so when The Earwigs split
I went solo got a backing band ‘Mystery Train’ got signed to EMI .-By this time I’d written hundreds of songs -to this day I have songs always coming-I don’t take it for granted -I just write em’-Ive had them in the movies and on the radio and have been able to make a living doing what I like without compromise.I love when other artists cover them.
My Folk stuff gets covered a lot.
The thing I’m most proud of is I don’t sound like no one else and follow no one or the latest trend in Americana or whatever it is or the latest political BS left or right is .The art world especially in music or show business if you jump on the most fashionable cause people think that makes them ‘ some kind of rebel.What it really does is make you a parrot in a cage imprisoned by a loss of yourself to something that can change whenever the wind blows at a moments notice.You can lose yourself pretty fast thinking your free when your locked in a invisible cage.You’ll find out soon enough aint no bird seed in that mental environment to keep your creativity fed.Best to fly that coupe find somewhere else to fill your hunger for life and create.
My new album Rabbit Foot Carnival-was recorded with my band Michael Ubaldini and the Starshakers live all playing in a room together vocals and all no click tracks and minimal over dubs and soulful because I’m keeping it real..
My solo folk albums the same.Its like if you overcook a meal its no good – if you just cook and serve when ready its done people gonna lick their chops. Music is good straight off the grill -Frozen dinner’s can fill you up but will make ya sick soon enough.
I also think its great the Earwigs my teenage band decades later has this weird cult following .Jack Whites Third Man records even picked it as record of the week in their Vault .
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
One of the best missions I ever went on was recent -There’s was a great man and he was dubbed King of The record collectors Joe Bussard who just recently passed away . The man was a pioneer and had over fifteen thousand 78 records in top condition the most extensive and best collection dating back to the early 1900s up til the 40s and pre rock n roll 50s.He was also the subject of a documentary. I had to meet him.Two years ago I tracked him down and connected with him out in Maryland and he became a great friend and this last May 2022 I journeyed out there and hung out in his legendary Basement for the weekend and he played me the best records you ever will or will not ever hear.He was a collector when no one gave a shit about that in the 40s and 50s and thought all this old Country,Blues,Folk,Bluegrass and Gospel was worth nothing.and a waste of time .He preserved American music history which influenced the world that would have been forgotten.He started a label called Fonotone in the 50s and 60s -a true pioneer of a DIY label -recording artists on 78s and tape -putting the labels all on by hand .Hes the only person I could relate to talking about this music.A kindred spirit.
We became buddies .I was the last person he recorded straight to tape and on 78 on his 78 record machine cutter.He put the Fonotone label on it himself.One of if not the most rewarding recording Ive ever done.He was 88 and just passed away .I would talk to him weekly over the phone.Really miss that.I was blessed to meet him.No one could match his energy.As a traveler on the road of rare historic music I had to hear these records.He tipped me off to a Hank Williams 78 rare on Sterling label at an old store he knew of so I got it .He had the only copy of Stack lee Blues on a Black Patti label -made me lots of recordings.
A generous man.It don’t matter if people are born many generations apart -like minded souls wind up crossing paths..
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Whats rewarding being creative I would say is in different layers -one when the songs come to you from nothing ..well they don’t come from nothing the songs come from God . What I mean by nothing is you sit down to write words,stuff pops wherever and whenever it feels like it into your head and boom there it is, that’s one reward.The other like with my latest album Rabbit Foot Carnival is seeing an album come to fruition and how the collection of songs wind up shaping the album as a whole and how those songs live together and are a part of each other yet so different, I dig that. Gospel songs,Rock n roll,Blues folk and honky tonk songs with roots can be taken somewhere contemporary yet painted on the old musical canvas is really something to hang your hat on.
I’ve always even though I have musicians I play with as well as solo acoustic ,I’ve always felt a kinship with the lone man with his guitar and a song
,Blind Lemon Jefferson ,Big Joe Williams and Hank Williams Jimmy ‘The Singin’ Brake man’ Rodgers.-As long as I got my guitar and a song with somethin’ to say & walkin’ the right path I’m doin’ just fine.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rocknrollpoet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelubaldini/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelUbaldinirocknrollpoet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIGb8ej_htijenNj9huP5eA
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/rabbit-foot-carnival/1619226263 https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michael-ubaldini/259609987 https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OIUUz6uDgUwkw21VF8oyU
Image Credits
Photos By Jolene Williams Photo walking by cross-Deb Ubaldini Photo of Michael Ubaldini &Joe Bussard by Z-tango