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A native of Long Beach, CA. who was raised in the Harbor Area, Michael Archuleta was born into a musical family. An accomplished musician, writer, composer, arranger and actor, he has been playing guitar since the age of twelve. Michael was influenced by corridos, rancheras, sones, polkas and boleros that his father, grandfather and uncles played during their family gatherings. His father and uncles who played guitar and his grandfather, who sang and played the harmonica and violin, taught him the rhythms of traditional Mexican music through verbal instruction. Growing up in the tumultuous times of the '60s and '70s Michael was inspired by the human struggle and politics of the Chicano Movements that originated in the fields of Delano and the classrooms of California. Musically, he was also influenced by era's popular music: rock, salsa and rhythm and blues. Combining traditional Mexican rhythms with the sound of popular music, Michael has created a musical fusion that he calls the California/Mexican Nuevo Canto or what he refers to as the "Calimex" sound. At the age of 14, he organized his first rock band. The band played at local parties, school dances and for the Long Beach Naval Base's officers and enlisted men's and women's club. Michael developed his love for performing and a gift for pleasing audiences. While attending college, Michael organized his second musical group, 2/3's Minority. During the cultural awakening of the Chicano/Latino community, 2/3s became popular on college campuses because it interpolated sounds and rhythms that both young and older generations could relate to: rock, rhythm and blues, traditional Mexican music, Tex-mex, Salsa and Latin Jazz. It was also during this time that Michael discovered his writing and composing talent. As a member of a guerrilla theater group, "Teatro Popular de la Vida y Muerte", he composed his first original songs. Most recently, Michael's interests have centered primarily in creating his own music and teaching guitar to children, teens and adults. While performing with his seven-piece band, and his acoustic group, he has traveled throughout Northern and Southern California, and just recently returned from Europe, performing for the troops in Bosnia and Kosovo. In addition, Michael has written the musical score for the documentary film, "Poetic License", He was also commissioned to write the music and underscore the theatrical productions of "The Shattered Mirror" and "Marisol's Christmas". His love for teaching has inspired him to develop the "Mariachi Method Book" for the beginning guitar student. This learning tool incorporates the verbal instruction of his youth and knowledge obtained twenty yeas of professional teaching. It focuses on the fundamentals of playing guitar in the style of Mariachi music and basics of "listening and participating" Michael believes that music students must learn to "feel the music", since this is a skill that a musician cannot replicate from a musical manuscript. |
Mariachi
lessons are a breeze with Michael Archuleta’s book “Mariachi
Method For Guitar” Book..