— Guitarist and composer Chris Michie, best known for his work with Van Morrison
by Dead at 55
FAIRFAX, Calif. (AP) — Guitarist and composer Chris Michie, best known for his work with Van Morrison, died March 27 after battling melanoma. He was 55.
Michie started playing in bands as a teenager in Madison, including one called the Grapes of Wrath, and moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1969 with another Madison rock group, Mendelbaum, which included future Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen.
In 1971, he left that band to join Lamb, which had a major-label record deal. Lamb's producer, David Rubinson, tapped Michie to be guitarist behind a new group, the Pointer Sisters.
Michie went on to become one of the top freelance guitarists in the Bay Area, working with Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur and Jerry Garcia.
He partnered with Morrison beginning in 1981, touring and recording with him for four years.
Michie also wrote and produced commercials and records, including noteworthy New Age instrumental albums with Daniel Kobialka, principal violinist of the San Francisco Symphony.