Duane Michaels

 Native Californian, Duane Michaels is no stranger to bluegrass. Raised in the Moreno Valley on a goat farm, he was exposed to bluegrass before he could walk. Duane began playing the fiddle/violin at the age of 16 and hasn't put it down since.

 

 

 

 

 

Seen here with fellow Hillbillies,

Kirk Wall, Anders Swanson

and Dennis Fetchet in August, 2002.

Some of his musical credits include:

  • Playing with Country Gazette in the early 1970's. Country Gazette also featured Alan Munde, Kenny Wertz, and famed fiddlist, Byron Berline. They also played for a time at at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in [then called] Bear Country, Disneyland.

  • Playing with the Bodie Mountain Express, as a warm up band to Elvis in 1974 with Chuck Stewart. The band also backed up singers, Ray Price and Emmy Lou Harris.

  • Playing fiddle as a substitute for Disneyland's famed Farley the Fiddler in Critter Country in 1980.

  • Playing bluegrass and country at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California in the 70's and 80's.

At the Disneyland Resort, Duane has recently worked with:

  • The Barncats [now the Miner 49'ers] at Disney's California Adventure as a substitute

  • Billy Hill and the Hillbillies at Disneyland substituting for mando player, Evan Marshall, where he demonstrated his skills for not only the fiddle, but also the mandolin and comedy.

  • He is currently starring in the Billy Hill & the Hillbillies Show at Disneyland in the Gold and Green Teams show with Kirk Wall, Dennis Fetchet, and John Marshall on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and John Eaden, John David and John Marshall on Thursday and Fridays.

  • Duane also owns a home-based business repairing musical instruments.

Duane as a hillbilly

with Billy Hill & the Hillbillies

Duane as a sub with The Barncats at Disney's California Adventure

Duane with his parents in July, 2003

 

 

Duane with Dennis and Kirk and old friend, Craig Smith.

 

Duane also currently plays with

Branscombe Richmond

&

the Renegade Posse

pictured here to the left.

 

Yes, that's Duane in the bottom right corner.

 

They can be reached at www.branscomberichmond.com/band/band.html

Unfortunately, this webpage is temporarily out of service and I can find no others. Sorry!

 

Use these links below to see other

Jan's World or Duane Michaels pages:

Jan's Barncats Page

.....featuring pictures of Duane playing with The Barncats at Disney's California Adventure.

Jan's Billy Hill Substitutes Page

.....featuring more pictures of Duane.

Branscombe Richmond and the Renegade Posse Official Website

Branscombe's website is currently NOT working.

[Duane's other band.]

Jan's World Main Page

[Webmistress of this page.]

Jan's Unofficial Billy Hill and the Hillbillies Page

[A Disneyland band Duane subs with.]