Michael Canfield Rhythm Section Africa
Michael Canfield is an award winning drummer, producer, vocalist, composer, arranger and music industry entrepreneur. He was drawn to the drums at age two and a half years old, played his first professional engagement at age 6 and has been performing ever since.
An introduction to drumming legend Gene Krupa when Canfield was eleven was pivotal in shaping Canfields future direction.
He has worked with artists ranging from Sammy Davis Jr. to Barbara Streisand and the Bee Gees; from Cyndi Lauper to Paul Simon; and performed at both the Grammy Awards and Oscar Presentations.
He won the 1968 US National Association of Rudimental Drumming National Championship. In addition during that period he continued his studies with legendary teachers such as Joe Morello and Ed Shaugnessey in New York City and was part of a National Champion percussion ensemble.
Michael Canfield first performed in South Africa in late 1995 with the New York based band George Worthmore & the Divebombers. This began a love affair with the country, its people and their music that precipitated his emigration in 1997.
Along with Worthmore, who by then had also emigrated and purchased the Blues Room in Sandton, he created Blues Room Entertainment, which was concerned primarily with the radio and television broadcast and production of artists that performed at the venue.
Canfield then established ListenAfricaProductions at the SABC, continued to compose and produce music for commercials and television, most notably the theme for Red Alert, a reality series that is still broadcast internationally.
Canfields most recent project is the launch of his new band Rhythm Section Africa. The group features original music inspired by Canfields experiences in Africa alongside pieces that are a part of his long professional career and interesting interpretations of the music of others. The band has recently released their first DVD pre-vyu a full length representation of the exciting live show and are currently in production on their first CD Authenticity released on Gallo Africa in 2007.
In addition, 2007 found Michael playing drums on recordings by Brenda Burnit and Radio Kalahari Orkes as well as playing on and co-producing Christoff Beukes debut CD.
But by far the biggest musical of the year was producing 'Spirit of the Greathearts' which included a new version of the Johnny Clegg classic now performed by 17 top SA artists, as well as the music video, 'making of' documentary and an 18 track compilation.
Michael Canfields professional credits include productions, recordings, performances and/or co-bills with the following:
Ruth Brown, Charles Brown, James Brown, Billy Idol, The Beach Boys, Greg Allman, Lynard Skynard, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Winter, Chuck Jackson, Dione Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Ben E. King, Billy Butterfield, Charlie Ventura, Sam & Dave, Ronnie Spector, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, The Persuasions, Darlene Love, Buddy Rich, Louis Prima, Della Reese, The Four Seasons, Jan & Dean, Fabian, Brenda Lee, Juice Newton, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ellie Greenwich, Dickie Betts, Wet Willie, Charlie Daniels, Elvin Bishop, Jaco Pastorious, Blood Sweat & Tears, Ira Sullivan, Juice Newton, Little Feat, Pure Prairie League, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, John Hall, Rick Nelson, The Kingston Trio, Kate Taylor, James Taylor, Loggins & Messina, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, The Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose, Roomful of Blues, N.R.B.Q., Levon Helm, Dr. John, Cyndi Lauper, Marvin Hamlish, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Five Blind Boys from Alabama, Henry Ate, Errol Dyers, The Waldorf String Band, Brenda Burnit, Christoff Beukes, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Rokkeloos, Rian Malan
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