Mickey Raphael: Blog

Budrock "Buddy" Prewitt took this picture.

Having our yearly cigar outside Pedernales Studio, Spicewood Texas

Mickey Raphael and John Selman

1992 birthday dinner in LA. Me, Joni Mitchell and Stephen Bruton, who passed away too soon. He was always the cutest, the funniest, and the first to try anything new, But this is just taking it too far ...........thanks to Schuyler for finding this photo

Not long ago we played in Memphis at Mud Island amphitheater. I rode my bike along the banks of the Mississippi river. It rained so I didn't get to ride for very long but the river was pretty amazing to look at.

I sat in on the set with Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses.

Ryan is from Texas. I'm a big fan of his writing, singing, guitar playing and his harmonica work. Check him out on Itunes or his cd's on Lost Highway. His band is cool too.

Farm Aid was big fun this year. Besides Ryan I really enjoyed Jamie Johnson, Wilco, and Jason Mraz. Willie and Family have been doing some dates with Dave Matthews Band and Willie sang and played guitar on 'Gravedigger" Dave asked me to sit in and I played on Jimmys Thing in Tulsa. What fun that was.

I'm home for a week and have to go to New York next week for a couple of days to do some press for the Willie and Wynton dvd which will be released by A and E in selected theaters on 10/15. The cd will be out in 2010. Always looking forward to being in New York.

 

I took my mom to meet Kinky Friedman, the next Governor of Texas. Willie and Billy Joe Shaver were at this fundraiser luncheon too. My mom said she thought Kinky was taller. Brian Kanof , my friend and a great photographer from El Paso took the picture.

We have been in the studio with Willie and producer T Bone Burnett. T Bone produced the "OH Brother Where Art Thou" soundtract, and the Allison Krouse/ Robt. Plant record.

This is a real country record with classic country songs that Willie has grown up with. I can't wait to here the finished product. We are back on tour next week. I had a nice little break with some good bike rides and well need rest.

 

 

John and I had a great ride in Austin. We started at Mellow Johnnies for breakfast. Mellow Johnnies is a bike shop in downtown Austin that Lance Armstrong owns. Then we took of for a tour of East Austin enjoying some of the colorful buildings in the barrio. The gig was brutally hot. Over 100 and the sun was still high in the sky when we played. Lots of sunscreen that day

I found this shot taken from some recording sessions with Jerry Lee Lewis. I just shot my boots.

Peter Wolf, the most gracious rock and roll star I know dropped by for a visit in Rhode Island. Pete is a great singer , songwriter, harp player, music historian, and all around good guy. Just having reformed the J.Giles band they did a couple of gigs and I hope we see more of them . check out peterwolf.com.

Willie gave everyone new black boots. He wanted a pair for himself and ended up buying a pair for all of us.

I hope he wants a Porsche

The Tour with Bob Dylan has been going great. Also with us is John Melloncamp. The venues are triple A ball parks and it's been great to be outdoors when we play. The weather has been cooperating except for last night we had a little lightening and had to quit early. I have been getting some good bike rides in with John our stage manager and Melloncamp's guitar players Andy and Mike. We try to get together and ride on the days off. 

This photo is with John