Sliver Or Slice by Mickey Richard

If I wrote about everything that Laura’s done for me, it’d be a novel! Denise Madrid, my

sister in spirit, writing mentor and so much more; Fred Nethery, my brother in music and co-writer of Camelback Pete.

This CD owes its very existence to Todd Perkins, whom made the recording of Sliver Or Slice a joy to experience. The

realized dream of this CD is dedicated to my daughters, Brooke and Rachel, for keeping me young, and to encourage

them to follow their own own dreams, and not let anyone discourage them from their goals; To all of my family for their

love.

In loving memory of: my Dad, Bruce ‘HB’ Richard, who once asked me “Is that all you’re ever going to do, play that damn guitar?”,

and then became one of my most supportive fans; my cousin, John Wesley Jewell, who gave me my first guitar lesson; my friend,

Steve Fortney, we played air guitar to the Beatles, before we learned to really play; Craig Baker, poet, songwriter and mystic.

To Joe Summers for his creative suggestions and for being an incredibly inspiring guitarist; Jesse Richards, for her inspirational

holistic singing lessons; To all my Michigan friends for their support and musical camaraderie: All my friends back ‘home’ on

San Juan Island, WA for helping and urging me to get out there to play and sing. I miss you all! Zoe & Zia, whom, along with

their late brother Zeke, supplied me with lots of kitty love when I first began song writing.

This CD is an honest representation of my music. All of my guitar parts were improvised on the spot, in the studio, with the

exception of the lone instrumental, JC Swayzee, my tribute to the late Freddie King. I’ll let the songs, both words and music,

speak for me. If you want to know my philosophy of life, all you need to do is listen!

Peace & Music,

Michael J. “Mickey” Richard

Spring 2007

ABOUT MICKEY:

The Basics:

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Mickey Richard has been performing his “philosophical, semi-fictional and frequently humorous observations with a jazzy-bluesy-rootsy vibe and pop sensibilities” around Ann Arbor, Michigan since moving back to the area in 2002, after spending nearly a quarter century on the West Coast. He’s hosted a monthly open mic at Oz’s Music in Ann Arbor since 2004. He's also known as Mickey Richard-Guitar Healer, and counts a few famous guitarists among his satisfied clientele.

Miracle Man?

In 1988, at the age of 35, Mickey was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia, a rare form of leukemia, and told he might live another five years. He volunteered to undergo a very experimental chemotherapy trial at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. Five doctors told him not to. He told the five doctors where they could stick their digital thermometers. In 1989, he was the eight person (and the youngest!) in the world to receive what is now the drug of choice for treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia, 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine, and was part of a case study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (Lawrence Piro, et al). He’s still here. But, it took fifteen more years (during which he's faced a struggle with chronic depression, an acrimonious divorce, another round of chemo, and a fall off a ladder that shattered his left wrist), to convince him that he should be focusing on music-related activities to earn a living. He also drinks real milk. That’s milk, straight from the cow, baby, like nature intended. Moo.

Mickey on his voice:

"In the 8th grade, I tried out for the choir. At the audition, I was very nervous and tense, causing my vocal cords to tighten. I could barely squeak out a note. A frustrated alcoholic music teacher, who was holding the auditions, told me to never sing again. I shared this information with someone close to me, who only reinforced the drunken teacher's opinion. After many years, I grew weary of being told not to sing, or that I couldn't sing. Since I started whistling musically before I could talk, and I taught myself to play the guitar by ear, I reasoned that I could sing as well, despite what the negative people in my life told me. So, in 1997 (31 years after that choir audition), I started singing. I haven't looked back.

Influences:

Elvis Chuck Berry Johnny Cash Dion Del Shannon Duane Eddy The Ventures The Beatles Jimi Hendrix John Lennon Peter Green Joe Summers George Harrison Eric Clapton Mike Bloomfield Frank Zappa Muddy Waters George Bedard Robbie Robertson Roy Buchanan Jeff Beck Roy Orbison Elvin Bishop Freddy King T-Bone Walker Dozens of Motown Artists Neil Young Bob Dylan Tom Petty Arlo Guthrie Pete Seeger Django Reinhardt Robin Trower Jesse Colin Young John Lee Hooker Robbie Robertson Buddy Guy & many more.

And a special thank you to Joe Summers!

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