Background
He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where he learned to play guitar as a child.
singer songwriter jazz musician
He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where he learned to play guitar as a child.
As a session musician, he played on numerous hit singles and albums recorded in Los Angeles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He is sometimes credited as Mike Deasy Senior While still at high school, he played in bands backing visiting musicians such as Ricky Nelson and The Everly Brothers, and also played in Ritchie Valens" touring band with Bruce Johnston, Larry Knechtel, Sandy Nelson, and Jim Horn.
After graduating in 1959, he joined Eddie Cochran"s band, the Kelly Four, where he played both guitar and baritone sax and made his first recordings.
He also played with The Coasters and Duane Eddy. Following Cochran"s death in 1960, he became an active session musician in Los Los Angeles
In the 1960s and later years he also worked on records by the Monkees, the Association, Scott McKenzie, Johnny Rivers, the Fifth Dimension, Rick Nelson, Randy Newman, Spanky & Our Gang, Tommy Roe, Fats Domino, The Byrds, Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa, and others In 1967, he contributed to albums coordinated by record producer Curt Boettcher, including Friar Tuck and His Psychedelic Guitar, effectively a Deasy solo album with wordless vocals by Boettcher.
Under the pseudonym Lybuk Hyd, Deasy also played guitar and sitar on the psychedelic concept album Tanyet, credited to The Ceyleib People, which also featured Ry Cooder.
He played guitar (with Tommy Tedesco and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Casey) on Elvis Presley"s 1968 television special, Elvis. In 1969, he was invited by record producer Terry Melcher to work with a newly discovered singer-songwriter, Charles Manson. Deasy left Manson"s home after three days, "in a state of drug-fueled paranoia".
Deasy continued to record with leading musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Chet Baker, and Mel Tormé.
His guitar playing has appeared on the soundtrack of many films including The Graduate, Guess Who"s Coming to Dinner, Duel, Bullitt, and Dirty Harry, as well as on many commercials. In later years, he has had a parallel career as a motivational speaker, and since 1988 has run a "Yes To Life" educational and inspirational program in schools and colleges in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The Deasys also co-pastor Rock Church Southeast in Portuguese Arthur, Texas.
He worked as a member of "The Wrecking Crew", with Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel and others, on sessions for Philosophy Spector, and contributed guitar parts to The Beach Boys" album Pet Sounds.