Michael Hedges
Created in 2021 by his family and friends, this website is a place to remember, celebrate and learn about the life and music of Michael Hedges. More features will be added in the years to come.
For 43 years, we were able to share an extraordinary life and its music. The acoustic guitar will never be the same, and for those of us that loved him, neither will we.
Photo Credit: Irene Young
The Music
“Heaven is all around, translated to sound.”
Michael Hedges was an innovative guitarist and composer who released eight solo albums and collaborated on numerous other projects before his untimely death in 1997. His talent brought him from small-town Oklahoma to Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory, and Carnegie Hall. He was a once-in-a-generation force that would revolutionize the acoustic guitar.
Oracle
IN PRODUCTION
A feature documentary about the life & music of Michael Hedges
Produced and directed by filmmakers Mischa Hedges (Michael’s son) and Brendan Hedges (Michael’s brother), the story of Michael’s life & music career will be told by his family, close friends, collaborators & fans, with never-before-seen footage & unreleased music.
BECOME A SPONSOR
You can become an official sponsor and help fund production of the first feature documentary about Michael Hedges.
The Latest
ORACLE – Become a 2025 Sustaining Sponsor!
See behind the scenes of Oracle: the Life & Music of Michael Hedges, and get new perks for becoming a 2025 sustaining sponsor!
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Oracle filmmakers partner with IDA for Fiscal Sponsorship
Exciting announcement for the ORACLE documentary – the filmmakers have partnered with the International Documentary Association for fiscal sponsorship!
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Michael Hedges – LIVE! (an online event series)
A series of online events this fall – featuring rare, unreleased recordings, conversations with Michael’s family, friends and collaborators, and exclusive clips from the upcoming documentary.
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Now Available for Streaming – The Artist’s Profile: Michael Hedges
This rare 1998 documentary remembers remembers Hedges through his own words interspersed with rare footage from a July 1996 outdoor concert with bassist Michael Manring. Now available for online streaming.
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George Winston covers Michael Hedges’ song “I Wish I Was a Cowboy” on piano
On his posthumously-released album Eastern Montana, George Winston covers Michael Hedges’ original unreleased song “I Wish I Was A Cowboy.”
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8/17/24 – Remembering Michael Hedges concert
On a warm summer night in Madison, NJ, more than 200 fans, collaborators, family and friends came together for “Remembering Michael Hedges” – a tribute/benefit concert.
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tripliciti guitar trio covers “Ursa Major” by Michael Hedges
Guitarists Andy McKee, Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall pay tribute to Michael, who they cite as one of their biggest influences, with a cover of “Ursa Major” on their first album as tripliciti.
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Behind the Scenes, Editing ORACLE!
We’re spending the first few months of 2024 taking a break from production, getting started on the edit!
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“The Double Planet” available from Stropes Editions, Ltd.
In August 1987, I was delighted to welcome Michael Hedges back to Milwaukee for the second American Finger-Style Festival. His career was burgeoning and there was a palpable excitement in the air both for his concert and teaching. And he was ready...
Michael’s Harp Guitar ‘Darth’ at the MIM
Michael’s Knutsen Harp Guitar Arrives at the Musical Instrument Museum.
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Interviewing Windham Hill Founder Will Ackerman
It was time to finally make the pilgrimage. Almost to the day of the 40th anniversary of the iconic, legendary recording sessions of Aerial Boundaries, we were heading to the tumbling, autumnal world where they took place: Windham County, Vermont ...
Behind the Scenes, Interviewing Graham Nash!
For our next-to-last interview of the year, we returned to New York City – on a spectacular autumn day in the heart of Soho, above the cobblestones that line Greene Street, for a memorable session with the great Graham Nash.
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Discover Michael’s Music
Michael Hedges’ music career spanned the 70s, 80s and 90s, and his work included composing for multiple instruments, but primarily guitar. He was known for his captivating stage presence, his warmth and generosity, and of course, his incredibly unique style of playing the guitar – which lives on his recordings, and in those who were influenced by him.
Fan Stories
Have a story to tell? Submit yours below!
Michael Hedges – LIVE! (an online event series)
A series of online events this fall – featuring rare, unreleased recordings, conversations with Michael’s family, friends and collaborators, and exclusive clips from the upcoming documentary.
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“I’m Your Guitarist” (Robert Sorrenti)
I met Michael in December 1984. He had been scheduled to play at my small restaurant in Tallahassee Florida about a year earlier with Scott Cossu but had missed the plane.
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25 Years Since We Lost Michael
It’s been 25 years since we lost Michael. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him. Here’s an update on the projects we’re working on to celebrate his life and music.
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Waltzing Kokopelli to the Greek
“Our mystery here starts on August 10, 1996, the day I got a call from my pal Michael Hedges on my ruby red rotary-dial telephone.” – a remembrance of Michael Hedges written by his friend and collaborator, songwriter Patrick Bray...
Maybe Magic: Rediscovering The Wonder of Michael Hedges (Tim Arnold)
My brother gave me a cassette that would become the soundtrack of my life in Spain until I returned to England some years later. Side A was Michael Hedges’ Aerial Boundaries.
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I met one of my heroes…(Martin Filiatrault)
Submitted by Martin FiliatraultI was fortunate enough to meet Michael during a show at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, CA in [1997]. I took a chance during the intermission and walked backstage at the open venue. I found Michael by himself, walking...
Meeting Michael – His Friendliness and Humility (Chana Schwartz)
Submitted by Chana Schwartz – When I was in college in the Bay Area, a friend started taking me to the New Varsity Theater to hear concerts of some of the Windham Hill artists playing there.
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First Listen (Jimmy Galloway)
Submitted by Jimmy Galloway The year was 1988. My friend Max brought over a 90m cassette tape. On one side was Breakfast in the Field, the other side was Aerial Boundaries. I just started playing guitar 2 years earlier, learning Jimmy Page, Chet A...
The Hollow Arm (David Powell)
Submitted by David Powell – I had the privilege of helping a friend produce a documentary about the harp guitar called “The Hollow Arm,” which includes a segment about Michael Hedges…
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Meeting Michael on Oracle ’97 Tour (Ricardo Sweatt Rodriguez)
Submitted by Ricardo Sweatt Rodriguez “I had the great privilege of spending time with Michael a few weeks prior to his passing. I received him at the airport in Houston on his Oracle tour in October 1997. We spent time in his hotel room tal...
There are no rules (Wiley Hodgden)
Submitted by Wiley Hodgden – In the summer of ‘97, I took a road trip on HWY 1 from Mendocino down to San Diego, hitting all parts of California…
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Meeting one of your guitar heroes (Tom McVey)
Submitted by Tom McVey I worked as artist liaison at a venue back in the early/mid 90’s and Michael played twice during my tenure. I would always request working his shows so I could meet and talk to him. I was first ‘introduced’...
My first decade with Michael Hedges
Michael and I first met in 1969 when I was a senior in high school and he was a sophomore.
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Starseed Eulogy for Michael
Songwriter Patrick Brayer’s eulogy for Michael Hedges, written shortly after Michael’s death.
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An open letter Michael’s fans…
An open letter to friends, collaborators and fans of Michael Hedges, by Michael’s son Mischa
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Quotes from Michael Hedges
Read quotes from Michael Hedges, as compiled on the original Nomadland.com website by Matt Guthrie.
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Interview with Michael Hedges for D’Addario
D’Addario strings put together a calendar for ’95 in which they asked the various featured artists a few questions. Michael was January’s poster boy.
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Interview with Michael Hedges for “Guitar Works” – 10/29/94
During the fall ’94 Road to Return tour, Brian Jarbo interviewed Michael for his radio program Guitar Works. The program can be heard in the Baltimore-DC area on 89.7 FM WTMD, Sundays 9-10PM. Thanks to Brian for the interview!
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An interview with Michael Manring – 4/15/94
An interview with Michael Manring while on tour with Michael Hedges in April, 1994. Conducted by Matt Guthrie.
...Rough Wind in Oklahoma
Michael Ayers reflects on the Oklahoma City bombing and attending a benefit concert where Michael Hedges performed.
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Have Your Own Story to Share?
This website is a collaboration between Michael’s family, friends, collaborators and fans. We’d love to hear your story about seeing him live, meeting him, or anything else you’d like to share!
Well-written stories with 1-5 high quality images (minimum 800×600 pixels) and 3-5 paragraphs of text will be published on the blog if they meet our standards for quality and respectful communication on this website.
Please write your story and upload your images using this form. We’ll be in touch when your story is published on the blog so you can share it far and wide!
Fan Club
Wait, you read all the stories on the website and still want more? Join the Facebook Fan Club for more conversation with Hedges fans about all things Michael Hedges.