Mike Bloomfield,

AKA Michael Bernard Bloomfield

Born: 28-Jul-1943
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Died: 15-Feb-1981
Location of death: San Francisco, CA
Cause of death: Accident - Overdose
Remains: Buried, Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, CA

Gender: Male
Religion: Jewish
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Guitarist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Guitarist, Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Guitarist
Electric Flag, Guitarist
Bob Dylan, Backup for Highway 61 Revisited
Risk Factors: Heroin, Cocaine, Insomnia

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Festival! (23-Oct-1967) · Himself

Official Website: http://www.mikebloomfield.com/

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Michael Bloomfield Signature '59 Les Paul Sunburst

Few American Guitarists have done more to promote the Gibson Les Paul as the guitar of choice for blues players than Michael Bloomfield.

Two questions are often asked by Bloomfield fans: Where is Michael's '59 Les Paul Standard, and when will Gibson issue a signature Michael Bloomfield Les Paul?

The answer to the first question is at present incomplete. Michael lost his famed '59 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst when he abandoned it in Canada, probably during a gig in Vancouver in 1974 or '75. The story goes that Michael left before completing the date and the club owner kept the guitar as compensation for his losses. The Sunburst was later sold to a private collector who has preferred to remain anonymous. Wherever its present location, fans can be assured that the instrument is in the hands of someone who knows its value, both as a rare Gibson Les Paul and as a revered '60s Icon.

As for the second question, the Michael Bloomfield Estate is happy to announce that a Michael Bloomfield signature 1959 Les Paul Standard Sunburst model is now available at Gibson. The company unveiled the model at the NAMM show in January 2009. The Bloomfield family would like to thank Gibson, and particularly Pat Foley, who headed up the project. This was a major undertaking because they did not have access to the original guitar. A considerable amount of time, using expert guitar technicians and photos of Michael in performance with the '59, went into the forensics of recreating the signature instrument. That care and dedication to getting the nearly-handmade reproduction right is reflected in its cost.

           

Says Gibson, "Bloomfield's technique is without equal, and the tone achieved using his beloved Les Paul is one of the most recognizable of all time.

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Michael wailing on his '59 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst at the Fillmore West in May 1970. Photo by Dave Coleman, courtesy of Don Mock

 

 

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Michael's '59 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst originally came from Dan Erlewine, the world-renowned guitarist, guitar technician and repair artist. He traded it to Michael for Michael's, 1954 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (and $100).

Dan Erlewine performing with his blues band, the Prime Movers, in 1966. He's playing the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst guitar that was to become Michael Bloomfield's in the summer of 1967.

 

  Photo courtesy of Dan Erlewine

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Michael Bloomfield Discography

Compiled by Bob Janicki (Musician By Night)

This is a listing of all the known Bloomfield recordings in LP and CD formats. 

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Michael Bloomfield was another very influential American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter that is worth listening to, if you’re really a blues connoisseur. Above is a sampling of his CD’s so when you get the opportunity, you may want to pick one up the next time you’re at your favorite music store or if you like use the web and purchase yours from http://www.Amazon.com .

I’ll continue my search for other influential blues and blues-rock artists from the late 1800’s to current times. If you’re interested in any particular artist, just let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll do all the research, then publish a post in the artists name. I love to learn about other blues and jazz guitarists and who they played with during what period of time.

Once again, please feel free to leave a comment (now and then), if you like what you read, or have any constructive ideas you’d like to share with me so I can build a better site for all readers to enjoy and share with their friends.

Until next time;

Musician By Night . . .

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