Michael Falzarano

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Falzarano has been a working musician for over 50 years, most notably in Hot Tuna, the famed offspring of The Jefferson Airplane, The New Riders of the Purple Sage and his current projects The Extended Family and The Englishtown Project. As a longtime member of The New Riders of the Purple Sage, a spin-off of the Grateful Dead, Falzarano has toured extensively and recorded two CDs of new material (“Where I Come From” and “17 Pine Avenue”) with this seminal cosmic outlaw country band. Robert Hunter, famed lyricist for the Grateful Dead, contributed songs along with Falzarano.

In 2020 Falzarano released a critically acclaimed holiday album entitled “A Kaleidoscope Christmas” which Rolling Stone Magazine said “is a CD you have to hear.” It features his Extended Family of musicians: Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Pete Sears, Jeff Mattson, Jason Crosby and Kerry Kearney.

Falzarano, also a Woodstock Records recording artist, released his third solo CD “We Are All One” which included a dozen original and two cover songs. He was joined by musicians including Vassar Clements, Melvin Seals, Buddy Cage, Jorma Kaukonen and Garth Hudson, to name a few. Falzarano’s current release with The Extended Family, “I Got Blues For Ya,” (Hypnotation Records/Woodstock Records) has received widespread critical acclaim both domestically and internationally.

“The King James Session,” Falzarano’s previous offering on Hypnotation Records, notably includes the song “Last Train Out” which he wrote in memory of The Allman Brothers’ and Gov’t Mule’s late, well-known bass player and friend Allen Woody. “I Got Blues For Ya” also on Hypnotation Records received rave reviews and stayed at the top of the blues charts for months.

“Mecca,” a CD that Falzarano and The Memphis Pilgrims released on Relix Records with guests Jorma Kaukonen, Pete Sears and Harvey Sorgen of Hot Tuna and Danny Lewis of Gov’t Mule, also earned high praise.

Falzarano has both performed on and contributed many original songs to Hot Tuna CDs such as “Pair A Dice Found” (Epic), “Live at Sweetwater I and II” (Relix), “…And Furthurmore” (Grateful Dead Records) and “Hot Tuna—Live In Japan” (Relix), as well as the Jorma Kaukonen releases “Land of Heroes” (American Heritage), “Too Many Years” (American Heritage) and “The Jorma Kaukonen Trio Live” (Relix). One of Falzarano’s self-penned compositions is featured on Kaukonen’s current release “I Ain’t In No Hurry” (Red House). Falzarano’s partial discography includes Professor Louie & the Crowmatix’s “Live” and “Flyin’ High” (both on Woodstock Records), Kerry Kearney’s “Trippin’ on the Psychedelta” and Alexis P. Suter’s “Shuga Fix” (Hipbone).

A live show veteran of more than five decades, Falzarano has toured throughout the United States, Europe, Scandinavia and Japan with Hot Tuna, The New Riders of the Purple Sage and The Jorma Kaukonen Trio (Kaukonen, Falzarano and Pete Sears), among others. Additionally, Falzarano has appeared live or recorded with such musical greats as Paul Simon; Dr. John; Merl Saunders; Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Robert Hunter, Donna Jean Godchaux and Tom Constanten (Grateful Dead); John Lee Hooker; Johnny Copeland; Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (Howlin’ Wolf); Pinetop Perkins, Jonnie Johnson (Chuck Berry); Maria Muldaur; Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers); Guy Davis; Vassar Clements; Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson (The Band); Graham Parker; Steve Kimock; Bill Keith; Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, The Dead); Warren Zevon; Greg Allman; Oteil Burbrige and Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company); David Crosby; Eric Anderson; Tony Trischka; Arlo Guthrie; John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful); Kenny Kosek (Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band); Bruce Hornsby; Eric Weisberg; Pete Sears; David Nelson, John “Marmaduke” Dawson and Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage); Peter Rowan; Paul Kanter (The Jefferson Starship); Trey Anastasio (Phish); Peter Mulvey; Melvin Seals (The Jerry Garcia Band); Mark Karan (Rat Dog); John Popper (Blues Traveler); Commander Cody; Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic); GE Smith; Jeff Healy, Amy Helm; Alexis P. Sutter Band; and Jesse McReynolds (Jim & Jesse).

When not touring, Falzarano produces other artists and teaches guitar workshops at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch. He recently performed an original song “When There’s Two There’s Trouble” in the hit feature film “Blue Caprice” which was directed by Alexandre Moors and debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. His self-penned song “We Are All One” also appeared in the film “Go Ask Jane.”