Does Willie Nelson Have a Studio Recording of on the Road Again

Professional harmonica actor Michael Siegfried "Mickey" Raphael has been touring with state legend, Willie Nelson, since 1973.

A Texas-native, Raphael is no stranger to life on the road. He'south besides an accomplished studio musician who credits blues great Paul Butterfield and rhythm and blues saxophone genius King Curtis as 2 of his biggest influences. Compass caught upward with Raphael equally he was in Los Angeles visiting friends.

The Nashville-based "pocket piano" player gave some insight into growing up with Gershwin, his all-encompassing harmonica collection and what information technology's similar when Willie Nelson is your dominate. Here'due south some of that conversation.

Compass: Did you grow up listening to a lot of different kinds of music?

Mickey Raphael: Well, my mother was very musical. We had a piano in the business firm and she loved George Gershwin, so she'd play "Rhapsody in Blue" all the time. I guess I just take a existent addicted retention of that song and all of its different variations. I grew up listening to my mom play music. I didn't listen to records very much.

Compass: How old were you lot when you got your kickoff harmonica?

M.R.: I was probably xv. A friend of my dad's gave me a harmonica and said that if I learned to play "The Old Grey Mare" or "Oh! Susanna" or i of those former songs, he'd give me the harmonica. That's kind of how I started out - just sounding out songs. I grew up in Dallas and was wanting to be a guitar player, only I just wasn't very good. The harmonica was just something that I walked into.

Compass: How many harmonicas do y'all own now?

M.R.: Well, you need a minimum set of 12 with each 1 in a specific key, then I have variations of tunings and doubles of everything - several hundred I'thou sure just because they get out of tune and I don't mess with tuning them myself. I take a couple sets that I use in the studio and a couple of sets to use on the route. You but have to be prepared.

Compass: You've recorded with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Elton John to U2. Is there a dream artist or ring that you'd love to piece of work with?

M.R.: Ya. I was thinking about that the other day. I would love to record with Paul Simon. I've played with him alive before, and so I call back recording with Paul would exist fun and challenging. Anybody. ... I only love being in the studio.

Compass: Practice you prefer the studio to playing live?

M.R.: I kind of practise. I mean, I like a little chip of both, but the studio is everlasting. Once you play it, it's there forever. A testify, in one case you play, it it'southward gone immediately except in the minds of fans. In the studio, y'all make an banner and you have to become it right and be artistic because you're sort of under the gun considering you're under somewhat of a time constraint.

Compass: Yous've been playing with Willie Nelson since 1973. That's more than than 40 years. Do you get tired of existence on the road?

M.R.: I do, but it's pretty civil. We're doing two weeks on and ii weeks off. And so life is proficient on the road. Nosotros just finished a West Coast bout and that was wonderful. Now I'll go home for a few days and so Willie's doing another Austin Urban center Limits taping, and so I'll go to Austin for a few days and and so we'll starting time the next tour.

Compass: So what's it like working with Willie Nelson?

M.R.: He'south a dandy guy and a wonderful boss. He'due south kind of a benevolent dictator. He doesn't really tell anybody what to practice, merely he gives you plenty rope to hang yourself. And that's a lot of rope. His thought is just to take people he's comfortable with effectually him and to make music. We're just winging it. We're creating. Information technology's different every solar day. He doesn't play the songs the same every night.

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Willie Nelson & Family and Alison Krauss & Matrimony Station featuring Jerry Douglas perform May 18 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the testify starts at half dozen p.m. Tickets are $59.50 to $99.50.

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Source: https://www.staugustine.com/story/entertainment/local/2014/05/09/willie-nelsons-harmonica-player-opens-about-life-road/16117893007/