Mike Hinton


Michael David Hinton was an American guitarist residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his career, he played with numerous bands, including Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts, High Noon, and Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band. He appeared on several albums with the Rainforest Band and other Merl Saunders projects, including It's In The Air, Fiesta Amazonica, Still Having Fun, Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends - Live, and Still Groovin.

Career

Hinton played with Country Joe McDonald and Friends, and recorded with Rick Danko on A Tribute To Jerry Garcia: Deadhead Festival in Tokyo, Japan, 1997. He was also on the Roky Erickson albums Don't Slander Me and You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best Of Roky Erickson. Among his other credits are his involvement in the Mickey Hart and Merl Saunders band, High Noon, and Freddie Roulette and Friends. He co-wrote the music for the films Stacy's Knights and Eddie Macon's Run, and played on the score for the 1980s remake of the television program, The Twilight Zone with Jerry Garcia, John Cipollina, David Grisman, and others. Hinton also co-wrote several songs with the world-renowned harmonica player Norton Buffalo, as well as playing lead guitar in Norton's band for approximately seven years, beginning in late 1980.
Hinton played several Merl Saunders tributes since the keyboardist's death in October 2008. A re-launch of the Rainforest Band as a tribute to Saunders took place at the 29th Starwood Festival on July 25, 2009, the site of their last performance. The tribute featured Hinton with Saunder's son and bassist Tony Saunders, Sikiru Adepoju and other members of the Rainforest Band and Saunders' projects.

Performed or recorded with

Television appearances and works

Discography

I Ain't No Angel – Lindy Gravelle Don't Slander Me – Roky Erickson You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best Of Roky Erickson It's In The Air – Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band Still Having Fun – Merl Saunders Fiesta Amazonica – Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends - Live Still Groovin – Merl Saunders San Francisco After Dark – Merl SaundersA Promise Kept – Jim McPherson Keystone Revisited – Tony Saunders, Bill Vitt, Steve Abramson, Jeff Pevar Sonoma Soundtrack – Schellville Southside Blues BandJoan Baez – produced by Mickey Hart featuring members of the Grateful Dead and High Noon

Filmography

Scores

Stacy's Knights – co-wrote and performed with Norton Buffalo Eddie Macon's Run – co-wrote and performed with Norton Buffalo

DVDs

Saunders & Friends by John Metzger – The Music Box, November 1998, Volume 5, #11Chet Helms: Tribal Stomp
  • ''2B1 Multimedia''

Laser disc

A Tribute To Jerry Garcia: Deadhead Festival in Tokyo, Japan, 1997 – Japanese Laser Disc NTSC - VAP Video Super Rock series VPLR-70650