Obituary: Chris Michie - Class of 1966

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - Chris Michie, Bay Area musician and producer, died peacefully at home on Thursday, March 27, 2003, after living for six years with melanoma. Deborah, his wife of 35 years, and his daughter, Claire, were at his side. Chris was the son of Mary and the late Norman Michie of Madison, Wis., where Chris grew up and attended the University of Wisconsin. He and Deborah moved to San Francisco in 1969 with The Mendelbaum Blues Band. Over the years he played, recorded and toured the world with Van Morrison, The Pointer Sisters, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur and many other San Francisco and Bay Area bands. During his 25-year partnership with the late Andy Kulberg Chris logged many hours in the studio creating music for TV, film and commercials as well as recording his own music and producing and playing on other musicians' tracks. He was a mentor to many musicians, young and old, and played in the Fete de la Musique in Paris with friends in 2001. He wrote and published a memoir of his music career entitled "Name Droppings or It's All About Me Isn't It?" and released several CDs of his own music. Chris' last project was the score for Judy Irving's film "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," of which he was extremely proud. In addition to his wife, Deborah Brown Michie, and their daughter, Claire, Chris is survived by his mother, Mary; brothers, Peter and Adam of Madison; a sister, Sarah Pressler of Colfax, Calif.; and was known and loved by hundreds of friends throughout the country and world. A Scottish wake will be held in his memory on Sunday, April 6, 2003. Check this website for more information: www.cmichie.com

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 2, 2003