Michael Dawson
Founding Member Of Plutonian Shore
Place Of Birth: Hawthorne, California, USA.
Current Occupation(s): Music composer; Founder and President of Voodoo Swamp Entertainment; kung-fu and Tai Chi teacher; part-time stunt performer and stunt-fighting trainer; Creator/Editor-In-Chief of Voodoo Swamp Comics; Creator/Co-Editor of The Macabre Files Of Dr. Mordred; part-time monster hunter.
Former Occupations: Former audio engineer and Sound Designer; former Owner/Producer of Dark Tower (audio & video post-production/DVD authoring/music production facility); former Owner of Echelon Entertainment (music label & publisher); former costumed adventurer; former amateur sleuth.
Identity: Publicly known. Illegitimate son of Captain Analog.
Astrological Sign(s): Leo/Earth Monkey.
Current Group Affiliation(s): Co-Founder of Plutonian Shore; Founder/Chief Instructor of the Northern Shaolin/Praying Mantis Kung-Fu Association; member of the Screen Actor's Guild; Publisher Affiliate of BMI.
Base of Operations: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Studio: Voodoo Swamp Labs (a division of Voodoo Swamp Entertainment), New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Primary Instrument(s): Piano, synthesizers, samplers, drums, Indian tablas and various percussion instruments.
Other Instruments: Violin, Chinese 4-octave bamboo flute, trumpet, French horn, saxophone and other brass instruments.
Serious Interests: Certified as a Chief Instructor with over 28 years of experience in various systems of Chinese martial arts: the Northern Shaolin Monastery system, Seven-Star Praying Mantis and Tai Chi Praying Mantis systems, the 18 Law Horn (Shaolin Lohan), Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-I and Pa-Kua, as well as Chi Kung, Iron Palm, Piercing Hand Techniques and traditional Northern-style kung-fu weaponry. For nearly 18 years, he has taught kung-fu and Tai Chi in numerous schools, colleges and organizations throughout California. Also has a serious interest in Asian and Middle-Eastern Culture, History, and Philosophy (with a particular emphasis on Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, correlating with his study of the martial arts), Chinese Medicine (e.g. - Acupuncture, Acupressure and herbolgy), Hatha Yoga, alternative medicine, the occult, medieval metaphysics, parapsychology, Voodoo, and E.V.P. (Electronic Voice Phenomena). Fervent collector of pre-1986 comic books, related toys and collectibles. Heavy interest in Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films, T.V. shows, books and related media. Collects Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films/T.V. shows (especially the classics). He has been a life-long fan and reader of such genre magazines as Famous Monsters Of Filmland, Castle Of Frankenstein, Scary Monsters, Fangoria, Cinefantastique, and Starlog. Active interest in filmmaking, movie-watching and writing comic books. Collects vintage synthesizers and related equipment. Fan and avid supporter of Bellydancing and other Oriental Dance styles. Vegetarian since 1985.
Hobbies: Entomology and raising praying mantids in captivity, zoology, marine biology, studying Arthurian legends and literature (especially the mythology surrounding the Holy Grail and other related lore), as well as the medieval history of Europe. Interested in the history and legends of the American Old West of the 1800's, Jack The Ripper (“Ripperology”), and pirates of old. Enjoys designing/playing role-playing games and board games. Also interested in dinosaurs, prehistoric fossils, movie Make-Up Effects and Special Visual Effects. Enjoys visiting wax museums and exploring old ghost towns. Other interests include running, walking, hiking, camping, spelunking, exploring tidal pools, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, and horseback riding.
Musical Influences: Beethoven, Wagner, Mahler, Bach, Schubert, Saint-Saëns, Moussorgsky, Rachmaninov, Orff, Bernard Hermann, Franz Waxman, Max Steiner, Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner, Les Baxter, James Bernard, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry, Ennio Morricone, Howard Shore, Basil Poledouris, Brad Fiedel, Leonard Rosenman, Akira Ifukube, Vangelis, John Carpenter, Peter Gabriel, Michael Stearns, Larry Fast, The Goblins, Jack Nitzsche, Duran Duran/Arcadia (pre-1986), Shriekback (pre-1987), The Fixx, The Police, Stewart Copeland, Genesis, Phil Collins, Led Zeppelin, This Mortal Coil, and his Great-Uncle, violinist John Masserek.
Some Favorite Bands/Solo Artists/Composers: Mendelssohn, (Richard) Strauss, Berlioz, Brahms, Schnittke, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Maurice Jarre, Thomas Newton Howard, Graeme Revell, Elliot Goldenthal, Thomas Newman, Robert Farnon, Fred Steiner, Bronislau Kaper, Jerry Fielding, Gil Melle, Alexander Courage, Masaru Satoh, Fred Myrow, Lennie Niehaus, Lalo Schifrin, Henry Mancini, John Ottoman, J. Peter Robinson, David Bowie, Oingo Boingo/Danny Elfman (pre-1993), Kate Bush, Midge Ure (pre-1989), Blue Öyster Cult, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Steve Roach, Richard Burmer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N' Dour, Ravi Shankar, Hossam Ramzy, George Abdo (And His Flames Of Araby Orchestra), Robert Plant, The Doors, Peter Murphy, Black Sabbath, Cheap Trick, and Queen.
Favorite Musical Instruments: SCI Prophet-5, SCI Prophet T-8, Roland XP-80 workstation, Roland Super JX-10, Roland D-50, Roland Alpha Juno-2, Kurzweil K2000S, E-mu Proteus MPS plus orchestral, E-mu Morpheus (synth module), Korg Wavestation A/D (synth module), Roland R-8 rhythm composer, Indian tablas, dombek, frame drum, djembe, and any decent-sounding piano (upright, baby grand, or grand).
