Artis the Spoonman
| Artis the Spoonman | |
|---|---|
Artis (left) performing with Jim Page at Seattle's University District Street Fair (1993)
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| Background information | |
| Born |
October 3, 1948 Kodiak, Alaska, U.S. |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, entertainer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Sapphire |
| Associated acts | Jim Page, Soundgarden, Frank Zappa, Mats/Morgan Band |
| Website | artisthespoonman.net |
Artis the Spoonman (born October 3, 1948, Kodiak, Alaska) is an American street performer from Seattle, Washington, who uses spoons as a musical instrument.
He frequents the Pike Place Market accompanying singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim Page with his collection of spoons of different shapes and sizes and materials spread out on a blanket. In addition to spoons, he plays the flute and recorder. To the larger public, he is probably best known for his collaborations with Soundgarden and Frank Zappa.
Artis had been active since 1972 as a street artist when he had his first collaboration with a major artist, appearing on stage with Frank Zappa in Eugene, Oregon, and at New York's Palladium, in 1981. Artis appeared on stage, in his own right, at the 1988 Seattle Bumbershoot music and arts festival.
In 1993 he published a compilation of his poems and short stories called Artis-Aspirations to Manifestations from the Womb to the Void. In 1994, an NPR's Morning Edition focused on him and his artistic rejection of material values. His song "Wake Up Call" opened the 1995 compilation Northwest Post-Grunge.
In the same year, he recorded "Spoonman" with Soundgarden, a song written by Chris Cornell, and named for and featuring Artis. He played the spoons in the song and appeared in the music video. On their 1994 tour, he opened up for the band in New York City, and Shepherd's Bush in London. The single charted at number three on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at number nine on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song also became a top twenty hit on the UK Singles Chart. In 1995, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
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