Happy Birthday, Mike Compton

[journeybear]

Happy Birthday to Mike Compton, one of the top mandolinists working today, and also, thanks to touring with Elvis Costello last year, one of the most visible. Thanks to his being born on Leap Day in 1956, he has now reached the age of 14. Soon he will be able to get his driver's license and be every bit the teenage horror story his parents have long feared. ;)

He shares this birth date with some notable people: Pope Paul III; Gioachino Rossini, who wrote one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music, "The William Tell Overture" ("The Lone Ranger Theme"); William Wellman (director of such movies as "Wings" (yes, the first Oscar winner and only silent film to win an Oscar until this year's "The Artist"), "The Public Enemy," the original "A Star Is Born," "Nothing Sacred," and "Beau Geste"); Jimmy Dorsey (clarinetist and band leader, who, with his brother, Tommy, produced some of the best music of the Big Band Era, together and separately, and helped start the careers of Frank Sinatra and later, Elvis Presley); Dinah Shore (singer, actress, talk show host); Tempest Storm (burlesque queen); Dennis Farina (actor and great moustache owner); Aileen Wuornos (serial killer - had to put in something for humility); and Ja Rule (rapper and actor).

By the way, his bio at wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Compton_(musician))could use a lot of work. Pretty sketchy, and only goes up to 2002, other than the discography. If anyone can expand upon that I'm sure he would appreciate it, and so would people looking to learn more about this talented musician.

[John Gass]

One of the best times to learn about Mike Compton is at the Monroe Style Mandolin Camp in the fall at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owenboro, KY. You get to spend the weekend basically living with Compton and taking formal classes, having dinner, jamming and generally socializing. It is highly recommended!

[Al Hagensen]

Happy Birthday , You are very talented for a 14 year old!:)) Wishing you many more happy, musical years.
Having enjoyed your talents and many contributions to music,I look forward to meeting you one day,Happy Birthday Mike!:mandosmiley:

[Wilbur James]

Happy birthday Mike, thanks for all the advice, keeping the monroe style alive and especially the music, It is all appreciated, heres to many more years on this planet!

[Marty Henrickson]

Happy Birthday, Mike! I hope this prodigy will have a great career in music.

Seriously, I have enjoyed just about everything I've heard Mr. Compton play. His "Stomp" CD, with David Long, and The Nashville Bluegrass Band's "20 Year Blues", remain two of my favorites.

[Cackmandu]

Happy Birthday Mike! Thanks WNCW!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w0xHObwo4g&feature=share

[Gerry Hastie]

Stomp was the first ever 'mandolin' album I bought. I'd heard of Mike via the Oh Brother Where Art Thou CD and Down From The Mountain concert DVD. The man is a legend. Many happy returns (well as many as you can being born 29th Feb).

[greg_tsam]

Yep. HBD, Tater.

[tiltman]

Happy Birthday Mr. Compton.
If I'm not mistaken, you now qualify for discounts at Denny's and other fine establishments!

Kirk Miller
Portland, OR

[journeybear]

So ...

I sent the following to http://www.leapyearday.com/ which, when noodling around the interweb on Leap Day, seemed by far the most inclusive list I could find of famous people born on that date:

I submit for inclusion in your list of august personages born on this unique date, Mike Compton, American mandolinist and former member of the well-respected Nashville Bluegrass Band, born on this date in 1956. Here is the link to his wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Compton_(musician)

Thank you. And thank you for compiling this list, by far the most complete I have seen, or expect to see.

I just heard back from the head honcho (coincidentally, born on the same day):

Thanks for your suggestion ... we've added him.... We are going to be revamping our Famous Leapers page, it might be complete -- but it sure is ugly. Soon it will be less ugly.

Hope you had a fabulous February...

One small step for man; a giant leap for mandolinkind. :mandosmiley:

You can see this list here: http://www.leapyearday.com/content/famous-leapers

[f5loar]

The Taterbug deserves a happy BD from all mandolin pickers both far and wide on this special day for him. He is the ultimate inspiration to all mandolin pickers, young and old. He seems to never grow old. He is one class act. HBD Tater!

[Marty Henrickson]

So ...

I sent the following to http://www.leapyearday.com/ which, when noodling around the interweb on Leap Day, seemed by far the most inclusive list I could find of famous people born on that date:

I submit for inclusion in your list of august personages born on this unique date, Mike Compton, American mandolinist and former member of the well-respected Nashville Bluegrass Band, born on this date in 1956. Here is the link to his wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Compton_(musician)

Thank you. And thank you for compiling this list, by far the most complete I have seen, or expect to see.

I just heard back from the head honcho (coincidentally, born on the same day):

Thanks for your suggestion ... we've added him.... We are going to be revamping our Famous Leapers page, it might be complete -- but it sure is ugly. Soon it will be less ugly.

Hope you had a fabulous February...

One small step for man; a giant leap for mandolinkind. :mandosmiley:

You can see this list here: http://www.leapyearday.com/content/famous-leapers
JB, as a fan of Mr. Compton's, I thank you for helping him get more recognition. However, I am pretty sure that Mike is not a former member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, but a current member. Actually, he is a former member, since he left the band in 1989, but he returned in 2000, according to the band's website (http://www.nashvillebluegrassband.net/mikecompton.html).

[SternART]

Go Tater.....keep 'em coming!

[journeybear]

JB, as a fan of Mr. Compton's, I thank you for helping him get more recognition. However, I am pretty sure that Mike is not a former member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, but a current member. Actually, he is a former member, since he left the band in 1989, but he returned in 2000, according to the band's website (http://www.nashvillebluegrassband.net/mikecompton.html).

GAAAHHH!!! I try to do something nice for the guy and this is the thanks I get?!?!? Oh lawdy, why even bother? :crying:

All right, exasperation expressed and expelled, I wanted to give MC his due at the leap day site, since it seemed only fittin' and proper - his exclusion being a major faux pas as far as I was concerned - so I went with whatever they had at wikipedia, which really wasn't much. (Had to give the mod something to corroborate my assertion, you know. ;) ) Someone who really knows his/her stuff about Mike ought to brush that up; it is really pretty skimpy. And if someone wants to contact the leap day folks, go ahead - the links are right there. The guy was very nice, responsive, and funny. Perhaps "founding member" would be better. I think it's best for the purposes of that site to keep the entry brief, just punching main points. Some of them are way too long. You'll see what I mean.

[Marty Henrickson]

I wasn't trying to belittle your efforts, JB. And I truly do think it's cool that you got Compton on their list. It actually can bd kind of confusing, with some of the artists that do so many "side" projects, to keep track of their affiliations. Apparently, the NBB haven't been very busy. I noticed there was only one date listed on their touring schedule.

[journeybear]

No worries - I knew you weren't. But something had to be done, and even if I am not that knowledgeable about Mike Compton, I figured I could do at least that much. It really is easy enough to contact people like this and effect the changes one would like to see. Sure beats just noticing something is a bit off, especially when just a little nudge will put it right. These things are best done by someone who has the requisite knowledge, though, so whoever does, please do. To paraphrase the Kennedys: Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not? Ask not what the internet can do for you, ask what you can do for the internet. ;)