What do a classical guitar, Marty
Robbins Gunfighter Ballads album and the boy's choir for the local
opera company have in common. They are all ingredients in forming Matthew's
life long love of music. He trained as a classical guitarist during the
day and played with a dance band at night. He performed dozens of concerts
for the Symphony Society but seldom played classical music for them. He
recalls "They would meet a someone's home or in a small room at a local
school or church. There would be anywhere from 20 to 60 people in attendance
and after the general meeting they would have a small concert. I was invited
the first time because I was a "promising classical guitarist" I was 16
years old. Everyone was sitting so quiet, my fingers felt fat and I was
scared to death. The only thing I could think of was my Mother's favorite
song Big Iron by Marty Robbins. Country music on a classical guitar,
they loved it." Matthew's driving curiosity led him to explore Jazz, Blues
and Country music but when he discovered Folk he knew he had found a home.
Matthew sang with Duke
Ellington in the 70's and appeared at such notable venues as The Olympic
Hotel: The Thunderbird: The Washington Plaza; The Sands Hotel & Casino;
etc. In 1980 he was hit by a drunk driver and lost the use of his left
arm. After 12 years of performing Matthew was forced to take an extended
sabbatical from music. He pursued a career in chemistry. His work in connective
tissue research for the Shriner's Hospitals eventually lead him out of
academia and into computer controlled instrumentation for analytical chemistry.
He later worked as a consultant to the cosmetics industry. But his first
love was always music. Now the sabbatical is over and Matthew is back.
Having a beautiful natural voice, makes his original thought provoking
melodies a gentle counterpoint to his eclectic mix of covers that range
from the classic country songs of Marty Robbins and Hank William's to the
blues of Billie Holiday to the folk-rock songs of Gordon Lightfoot , Simon
& Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan. His new album, Summer Man is due
out soon and has a great retro-folk sound! E-mail
Matt for more info.
|
Notable Quotes
"I find his songwriting especially
compelling. His music takes me back in time a little and seems to have
a flavor like some of the folk balladeers from an earlier time. He's recently
returned to the music scene and I second the motion" -- Geoffrey Huys ~
Folk Music Director, Crossings, WGCS
"He's "Genuine, the exception
in the entertainment world." -- Island's Sounder ~ Orcas Island
"Good, which is the understatement
of the year." -- KGAY~Radio Magazine
"Beautiful voice!" -- Duke
Ellington ~ who called him "Rosy Cheeks."
"In a word, Great!" -- James
Farentino ~ Actor
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Discography
-
The Eyes of a Poet - Coming Soon!! Dedicated to the memory of Tim Nesbitt
-
Street Musician (album)
-
Come Home My Son (album)
-
10° & Getting Colder/Cool Water
(45)
-
Summer Man/Eye's of a Poet (45)
-
Come Home My Son/We Are Moving (45)
-
The Master's Walk/Cotton Jenny( 45)
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FILM/TELEVISION
|
Production
|
Role
|
Company
|
|
That Darn Cat
|
Town Maintenance Man
|
Disney Pictures
|
|
Traveler
|
Race Track Gambler
|
Traveler Productions
|
|
Taunting Bankrobber
|
Bank Customer
|
Unsolved Mysteries
|
|
Baby Makes Three
|
Al
|
Bob Banner/PBS
|
|
American Gothic
|
Auction Attendee
|
Gothic Productions/CBS
|
|
To Gillian ... 37th B-day
|
Beach Bum
|
Gillian Productions
|
|
Eddie
|
Crown Club Member
|
Eddieball, Inc/Buena Vista
|
|
Space Marines
|
Space Marine
|
Light Year Productions
|
|
Walker, Texas Ranger
|
Multiple Episodes
|
CBS/Amadea Film Prods
|
|
Hunting Humans
|
Meter Reader
|
Never Never Land Prods
|
|
Love Is Strange
|
Chef
|
Thornhill Productions
|
|
The Message
|
Club Patron
|
First Tuesday Productions
|
INDUSTRIALS
|
Tales Fr the Hood Promo
|
The Prisoner
|
HBO Home Video/VSDA
|
|
High Impact Tool Safety
|
Andy Ginowski
|
ERI Productions
|
COMMERCIALS
|
***Conflicts on Request***
|
THEATRE
|
Little Mary Sunshine
|
Pete
|
Theatre of the Republic
|
|
The Dark Side
|
The Gatekeeper
|
Nine-Acres Entertainment
|
|
The Crucible
|
Ezekial Cheever
|
Jonston Productions
|
|
Carmen
|
Chorus
|
Portland Opera Assoc
|
|
Cavalleria Rusticana
|
Chorus
|
Portland Opera Assoc
|
|
I Pagliacci
|
Chorus
|
Portland Opera Assoc
|
SELECTED SINGING ENGAGEMENTS
|
Pockets (w/Duke Ellington), OR & NY
|
Jerry Lewis Telethon, Los Angeles, CA
|
The Refectory, Anchorage, AK
|
|
Johnnie High's Country Music Revue
|
Edmund's, Anchorage, AK
|
Good 'Ole Days, Andrew, SC
|
|
Barnes & Noble - SC, TX, NC
|
The Westward Ho, Anchorage, AK
|
The Washington Plaza, Seattle, WA
|
|
The Landmark, Las Vegas, NV
|
St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, CA
|
The Sands, Las Vegas, NV
|
|
The Horse & Cart, Charleston, SC
|
The Benson Hotel, Portland, OR
|
Montage Arts Fest '94 & '95, Dallas TX
|
|
The Frontier Casino, Las Vegas, NV
|
The No Exit Cafe, Chicago, IL
|
The Olympic Hotel, Seattle, WA
|
|
The Rosario Resort, Orcas Island, WA
|
Night Times, Greenville, SC
|
Andre's, Anchorage, AK
|
|
Ibby's, Myrtle Beach, SC
|
Pride '96, Winston-Salem, NC
|
The New York Plaza, New York, NY
|
|
EDUCATION/TRAINING
|
SPECIAL SKILLS
|
-
Philosophy / Humanities Mt. Angle Seminary
-
Voice--Ann Henry / Classical Guitar--Tony Vellas
-
Chemistry-Computer Science/BS--Portland State University
-
Acting--Cascade College
-
Acting in Opera--Theater Arts Opera Company
-
Film Acting/Audition Techniques--Dallas Actors Co-Op
-
Filmmaking Workshop--Monty Ross/40 Acres & A Mule Films
-
Scene Workshop--Dallas Actors Co-Op
|
-
Language Familiarity: German, Latin
-
Automobile Mechanic/Small Appliance Repair
-
Computer Literate-PC & Mac/Software Friendly
-
Singer/Songwriter/Guitar - Classical/Jazz/Folk/Country
-
Scientific Instrumentation Operation/Repair
-
Snow Skiing/ Ice Skating
-
Bartending/Restaurant Management/Operations
-
Industrial Plant Management
-
Character Voices
-
Woodworking/Cabinet Making
-
ACCENTS: German, French, Italian, Russian, English, Cockney,
Irish, Australian, Canadian, New York, Southern US
|
AFFILIATIONS
|
S.A.G. Eligible
|
|
|
SC Film Actors Co-Op
|
Dallas Communications Council
|
|
Man!
