The composer outside the Dawson mansion, March 1961
Michael P. Dawson was born June 2, 1956 in San Diego, California. He began playing guitar in 1970, and soon afterwards became interested in writing his own music. Although his musical explorations began with a strictly rock orientation--Bob Dylan and the Doors were early influences--he soon began exploring the worlds of classical music and jazz, thanks largely to the inspiration of those eclectic rock musicians whose music crossed the boundaries into those styles (Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer, et al.).
Dawson's first orchestral composition was performed by a student ensemble at San Diego's Crawford High School in the Spring of 1973. While pursuing a degree in biology at the University of California, San Diego, he also studied electronic music and music history with such notable instructors as composer Pauline Oliveros, pianist Cecil Lytle, harpsichordist Anthony Newman and contrabassist Bertram Turetzky among others. Dawson also became involved in improvised music and performance art circles, making occasional public appearances playing free improvisations with a handful of co-conspirators. In addition to guitar, Dawson has played bass, mandolin, flute, clarinet, saxophone and percussion, not to mention the synthesizers that figure so prominently on The Brandnewbug Concertos.
As a writer, Dawson has contributed to Goldmine, Musician, Option and The All-Music Guide.
Michael Dawson currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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