Biography of Mickey Hart

Best known for his work as drummer and percussionist with The Grateful Dead, Hart has long been fascinated with ethnic music from around the world. His interest was piqued upon discovering that the kinds of music emphasized in the West had, as he put it, "become devoid of the spirit or trance side of the drum, a side recognized by almost every culture on the planet." Over the years, Hart has done extensive research and made numerous field recordings of traditional styles, many of which are now available through his series, The World, on the Rykodisc label. Some of his earlier experiments in combining ethnic influences with modern Western elements have also been reissued on Ryko, such as his masterful early-'80s recording with Brazilian percussionist Airto and vocalist Flora Purim, titled Dafos. In the early '90s, Hart released two albums as aural companions to his books, Drumming at the Edge of Magic and Planet Drum. These releases bring together some of the world's finest percussionists. Together, Hart and his colleagues successfully resurrect the ancient power of the drum in a contemporary setting. ~ Linda Kohanov