Micron Document




Mike Botts
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Michael Gene Botts (December 8, 1944 – December 9, 2005) was an American drummer, best known for his work with 1970s soft rock band Bread, and as a session musician. During his career, he recorded with Linda Ronstadt, Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold, Olivia Newton-John, Peter Cetera, Anne Murray, Warren Zevon and Dan Fogelberg, among many others. He also contributed to several soundtracks for films, and to albums released under the name of The Simpsons. Although known primarily as a drummer, Botts also contributed backing vocals to some Bread songs.

Contents

Career

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Career

Born in Oakland, California, Botts grew up in nearby Antioch before moving to Sacramento. While in college, he began playing with a band called The Travellers Three and working as a studio musician. Eventually, the group disbanded, but not before recording some songs with producer David Gates.cite-ref-profile-1-0[1]

While working with Bill Medley, Botts was invited to join Gates's band, Bread, for its second album, On the Waters.cite-ref-latimes-2-0[2] He accepted the offer and worked as a full-time member of Bread from 1970 to 1973, when the band went on hiatus. At that point, Botts began working with Linda Ronstadt,cite-ref-latimes-2-1[2] and recorded and toured with her for over two years. Botts reunited with the other members of Bread in 1976 for one final album and tour, before disbanding again in 1978.cite-ref-profile-1-1[1]

He then worked with Karla Bonoff and Andrew Gold, playing on Gold's 1977 hit "Lonely Boy", and continued to work in the studio as a player, singer, writer, and producer. In 1989, he toured Japan with Richard Carpenter.cite-ref-profile-1-2[1] Two years later, he began touring and recording with Dan Fogelberg while continuing his session work, and also writing jingles and music for children's albums.cite-ref-3[3] In 1996, the members of Bread again reunited for a world tour that ran until the fall of 1997. Botts then recorded his only solo album, Adults Only, released in 2000.cite-ref-profile-1-3[1]

Botts died in Burbank, California, one day after his 61st birthday, having suffered from colon cancer.cite-ref-latimes-2-2[2]

Discography

• Joshua Fox – Joshua Fox (1968)
Tommy FlandersMoonstone (1969)
• Glenda Griffith – Glenda Griffith (1969)
Mary McCaslinGoodnight Everybody (1969)
BreadOn the Waters (1970)
Johnny DarrellCalifornia Stop-Over (1970)
Ananda ShankarAnanda Shankar (1970)
• Bread – Manna (1971)
Cyrus FaryarCyrus (1971)
• Bread – Baby I'm-a Want You (1972)
• Bread – Guitar Man (1972)
Malvina ReynoldsMalvina (1972)
Stephen CohnStephen Cohn (1973)
• Cyrus Faryar – Islands (1973)
David GatesFirst (1973)
• Richard Ruskin – Richard Ruskin (1973)
Andrew GoldAndrew Gold (1975)
• Malvina Reynolds – Held Over (1975)
• Rick Ruskin – Microphone Fever (1975)
Hoyt AxtonFearless (1976)
• Andrew Gold – What's Wrong with This Picture? (1976)
• Linda Ronstadt – Hasten Down the Wind (1976)
JD SoutherBlack Rose (1976)
Wendy WaldmanMain Refrain (1976)
• Hoyt Axton – Road Songs (1977)
Joan BaezBlowin' Away (1977)
Karla BonoffKarla Bonoff (1977)
• Bread – Lost Without Your Love (1977)
Chi ColtraneRoad to Tomorrow (1977)
Peter McCannPeter McCann (1977)
Kerry ChaterLove on a Shoestring (1978)
• David Gates – Goodbye Girl (1978)
Jimmy GriffinJames Griffin (1978)
Michael MurpheyLone Wolf (1978)
Shawn PhillipsTranscendence (1978)
• Barry Volk – Do What You Like (1978)
• Hoyt Axton – A Rusty Old Halo (1979)
• David Gates – Falling in Love Again (1979)
• Andrew Gold – Whirlwind (1979)
• Peter McCann – One on One (1979)
• Michael Murphey – Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys (1979)
Dan PeekAll Things Are Possible (1979)
• JD Souther – You're Only Lonely (1979)
Coast to Coast – Original Soundtrack (1980)
John FarrarJohn Farrar (1980)
Johnny LeeLookin' for Love (1980)
Urban Cowboy – Original Soundtrack (1980)
Peter CeteraPeter Cetera (1981)
Albert HammondYour World and My World (1981)
Dan HillPartial Surrender (1981)
QuarterflashQuarterflash (1981)
• Hoyt Axton – Pistol Packin' Mama (1982)
Moon MartinMystery Ticket (1982)
• Michael Martin Murphey – Michael Martin Murphey (1982)
Glenn ShorrockVillain of the Peace (1982)
Warren ZevonThe Envoy (1982)
Sharon O'NeillForeign Affairs (1983)
• Brock Walsh – Dateline: Tokyo (1983)
Footloose – Original Soundtrack (1984)
Eikichi YazawaFlash in Japan (1987)
Parachute ExpressCircle of Friends (1991)
• Parachute Express – Sunny Side Up (1991)
• Parachute Express – Happy to Be Here (1991)
• Rox Diamond – Rox Diamond (1992)
• Dan Fogelberg – River of Souls (1993)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks – A Very Merry Chipmunk (1994)
NelsonBecause They Can (1995)
Eliza GilkysonRedemption Road (1997)
• The Simpsons – The Yellow Album (1998)
Batman Beyond – TV Soundtrack (1999)
• Mike Botts – Adults Only (2000)
• Dan Fogelberg – Live: Something Old New Borrowed & Some Blues (2000)

References

cite-note-profile-11. "Mike Botts profile". Mike Botts official website. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
cite-note-latimes-22. "Mike Botts, 61; Drummer for 1970s rock band Bread". LA Times. December 15, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
cite-note-33. "Bread: Where Are They Now?". Rolling Stone. August 10, 1989. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

External links

• Mike Botts official site