Mike Kowalski
| Mike Kowalski | |
|---|---|
Kowalski at a concert in 1998
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| Background information | |
| Born | July 28, 1944 |
| Origin | Hollywood, California, United States |
| Genres | Rock, Blues, Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Writer, Producer |
| Instruments | Drums, Piano |
| Years active | 1947–present |
| Associated acts |
Beach Boys The Backsters |
Mike Kowalski (born July 28, 1944) is a drummer, percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the former drummers from the rock band The Beach Boys.
Mike Kowalski was born in Hollywood, California. He started singing and playing piano at the age of three. His first professional engagement was playing the piano, with Mel Torme on drums, for a television pilot at the age of five. At age ten, he was given a set of Slingerland Radio-King drums by Dragnet actor Jack Webb.
At the age of fifteen, he was playing drums professionally with various local rock and rhythm and blues bands. He performed both on stage and on screen as his family was affiliated with the film and television industries. By age nineteen he was playing drums with, L.A. based singers, Pat and Lolly Vegas, whom later formed the pop group Redbone. Also during this time Kowalski performed and recorded with Sonny & Cher, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Etta James.
Kowalski, along with the Vegas Brothers and players from the Wrecking Crew, recorded Sonny Bono's only hit record as a solo artist, without Cher entitled "Laugh At Me". Produced by Bono and Snuff Garrett. The song reached the Top 10 in the UK, Canada, and the US in August of 1965. Kowalski, at age 21, was the drummer on that record.
On January 3, 1968 Kowalski flies to London to join Ed Carter's Rock /Blues band, The New Nadir, with Gary Thain on bass.The New Nadir played the London circuit. The trio shared the bill at the Marquee club with Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, The Nice, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, and Jeff Beck, to name a few. A highlight for Kowalski was at the Speakeasy, when a friend of Carter's sat in with the band. The friend was Jimi Hendrix.
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