Untitled Document As editor of the Coconut Times, I strive to bring you the news on our local and visiting entertainers in the columns of this paper, Coco Nights and Marco’s Sonic Notes. And I enjoy a lot of good music in the process. All of these performers work very hard to entertain us; and so, several years ago I decided to recognize their achievements with an “Entertainer of the Year” award. There are several things I look for as I struggle to make a final decision: talent, versatility, personality, performance frequency, audience response. Last week, on Thursday, I surprised Michael Tracey White with this award as he performed on the stage the first night of Sunfest. The following is a phone interview with Michael.
Brenda: Congratulations, Michael!
Michael: Thanks. I’m so honored.
Brenda: You’ve earned it. What started you on this road?
Michael: I’ve always liked music; since before I could talk. I started taking drum lessons at 7 and took to it right away. I picked up the guitar about the same time and tried to figure out how to play on my own, but it was the drums I loved. I was 8 or 9 when my parents bought an old upright piano and put it in my music room, and I tried to learn just by reading; but you know, when you’re 8 or 9, what’s a kid gonna do? Play the piano or beat on the drum set? So I never mastered piano. In college I took classical vocal training for two semesters at Salisbury University
Brenda: Did you do any shows in school?
Michael: Not really but I was already performing around the area.
Brenda: When did you know that you wanted to perform?
Michael: Probably as soon as I could walk and talk.
Brenda: Did you perform for mom and Dad?
Michael: Absolutely. Grandparents, uncles, aunts - the whole thing.
Brenda: When did you first perform for the public?
Michael: Chorus in school and I joined the band program in Junior High and High School as a drummer. From very early on I listened to early rock like Elvis, Beach Boys, Beatles, all ‘60s pop. I was definitely aware of that through Bert Bacharach from songs like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” Brian Wilson and early Elvis Costello. Even as a kid I was really turned on to Ray Charles.
Brenda: Why?
Michael: The soulfulness - the groove. The way he would take his influences from soul, rock, jazz, blues, country - and make it his; just reallycool.
Brenda: What was your major in college?
Michael: Journalism with a minor in English. While in school and trying to get my solo career off the ground, I thought I would work for a paper or TV station after graduation and play music on the weekends. But by the time I graduated I was playing at places all over the Eastern Shore; mostly
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Ocean City, so I decided to stick to it. In fact, I started playing professionally at 15!
Brenda: Do you remember where that was?
Michael: Yeah, The Tidewater Inn in Cambridge.
Brenda: You really did venture out.
Michael: I did. My dad would take me to the gigs. I started out as a jazz drummer with a group called Chris Pinder and the Shoremen. It was a very elegant older hotel. It was a great place to start. That’s where I really learned to play a room; you know, how to work the crowd. When to be loud, when to be soft.
Brenda: And what age group you’re playing to?
Michael: Yes, absolutely. Chris was an older gentleman who taught me all the old standards and trained me how to do a show; mainly how to interact with an audience.
Brenda: How did you get hooked up with this group?
Michael: Through my drum teacher. He had worked with Chris Pinder some and referred me when he couldn’t make it, and I fell right into it. I loved it!
Brenda: So that background is what made you want to start that type of band yourself? I’m speaking now of Michael & The Little Professors.
Michael: Yeah. I spent years after that playing as a solo act on guitar. I really wanted to get back to my roots. I grew up on standards - you know, Gershwin, Cole Porter, stuff like that.
Brenda: When did you form the band?
Michael: About 5 or 6 years ago I brought that band together. We had a good long run but now we only do that part time. I decided to concentrate on my solo thing and doing my rock band.
Brenda: Rock band?
Michael: Yeah, the kind of thing you see my do at Springfest, Sunfest and BJ’s; expanding on solo - the deluxe version. I guess it started with Joe Smooth joining me on sax and then Chuck DeMartin on drums. It’s always a different cast of characters such as Joe Mama on drums sometimes.
Brenda: Do you enjoy breaking out that pretty red electric Stratocaster?
Michael: Yeah, I do. For a long time I was using a vocal processor and handing out songlists and I realized pretty much everybody else was doing that. So, I wanted to do something different. So, I switched from strictly acoustic and played the stratocaster without the vocal processor and started taking requests without a songlist and the people seemed to like that. If you’re fronting a band with a drummer, a sax player and maybe another guitar, it’s okay to play the electric.
Brenda: I for one like it very much.
Michael: I had about 300 songs on the list and people would ask for the same 30 or so songs every night so I got a good idea of what people liked. So now I like to ask people what decade do they want a song from and that’s been a lot of fun. Actually, I’ll do anything to get people involved. I like the interaction.
Brenda: Is doing an electric show fairly a recent thing?
Michael: Last couple of years, yeah.
Brenda: I remember when I first heard you at Cactus Cafe on Route 113 and how impressed I was with your original song “Paul McCartney.” Was that your first one and refresh my memory, what was it called?
Michael: Drawing Pictures In The Sand. Yeah, that really took off well. On a whim I sent a copy to Steve Allen. (You know, he was a prolific songwriter.) He sent me a really great review on it which really boosted my confidence. I put it up on the web site (michaeltraceywhite.com) and sold quite a few around the world. I was really lucky to have sold so many around the world.
Brenda: Have you recorded another?
Michael: Yes, I did one more with the Little Professors of my favorite standards called Time To Swing.
Brenda: I’d like to ask about that journalism thing because I know you had one very important project near and dear to your heart?
Michael: Yes. That was really cool. Friends of mine who worked at the Daily Times in Salisbury knew I was a Beach Boys fanatic and asked me as a favor to do a phone interview with Bruce Johnston because they were going to be at Shorebirds Stadium. What a pleasure - it was really cool. There I am standing in my kitchen on speaker phone, talking to Bruce Johnston and asking questions about the Beach Boys’ greatest achievements. He’s telling me about how he took Pet Sounds and played it for John Lennon and Paul McCartney to see what they thought of it, and jamming with Ray Charles, Sonny & Cher, etc.
Brenda: Did they publish it?
Michael: They published a synopsis of the interview, but the Coconut Times published the interview in its entirety two summers ago, which was very cool.
Brenda: Are you doing any writing now?
Michael: I am doing some writing. I have an album of standards coming out sometime this year - ‘40s and ‘50s standards with me on vocals and backup orchestra. My next project is going to be an album of covers - pop songs; and after that I’ll record the originals I’ve been working on.
Brenda: I’ve heard it said from fellow musicians that you were the busiest guy in town this summer? What were your venues.
Michael: All over the place: Caribbean Pool Bar two nights a week, Princess Bayside Rooftop, Schooners, Big Easy in Bethany two nights a week, BJ’s, Coconuts Beach Bar twice a week. The fall looks good, too. Big Easy every Tuesday, every Wednesday Occasionally Yours, Thursdays at the Parkway in Bethany and various places on Fridays and Saturdays such as BJ’s often . Sundays and Mondays I’m off - period!
Brenda: Here’s a nice compliment - Jeff, a manager at the Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill, says you made it a pleasure to come to work - his favorite!
Michael: That’s really nice to hear. I feel really proud to be named “Entertainer of the Year” and be in the company of your past winners Jim Long, Danny Dolan (First Class), Opposite Directions and Kevin Poole. There are so many good musicians and entertainers in town and that I got the award is really a privilege. Thanks!
Michael Tracey White, onstage at Sunfest, receives an award from CoconutTimes editor Brenda Golden naming him “Entertainer of the Year.”