JULY 29, 2010 ISSUE
In Memory of One of Us: Michael Masters, 1954-2010
Memorial Service, Open Mic Tribute, Celebration Night Saturday
Michael Eugene Masters was, among other things, a local musician, as well as a friend and hero to many. Masters passed away on July 10 of natural causes. His life and local contributions will be celebrated this Friday and Saturday, July 30 and 31, at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Murphy’s in downtown Boone. Photo by Brian Adam Smith
Michael Eugene Masters was, among other things, a local musician, as well as a friend and hero to many. He was a composer and master drummer whose musical career ranged from playing with Albert Collins to numerous bebop jazz groups to the early 1990s Seattle rock scene; he was playing on the road with Ray Charles by the time he was a teenager.
A decade ago, many people in the Town of Boone came to know about “Mike’s Story” via newspaper articles and a short documentary that aired on UNCTV; a series of unfortunate events in Masters’ life left him homeless.
But many of his friends knew and admired him for surviving the long struggle out of homelessness. In recent years he worked at Murphy’s restaurant, began a weekly open mic night there, played with various local musicians and rented an apartment in downtown Boone.
Masters passed away on July 10 peacefully and of natural causes. For those who knew him, it is difficult to imagine a more honest, modest or kinder person, and he touched the lives of numerous local musicians through his encouragement, guidance and instruction. Masters will be dearly missed by many, but his presence is still among us.
The memorial service will be held this Saturday, July 31, at 10:00 a.m. at Austin and Barnes Funeral Home, located on Queen Street in downtown Boone.
As a tribute to Masters’ open mic night at Murphy’s, Brian Adam Smith and local guitarist Miquela De León will host an open mic night at Murphy’s this Saturday, July 31, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Michael Masters Celebration Night will follow beginning at 9:00 p.m. at Murphy’s and will feature a number of local musicians including Kyle Rozich (Major Magick), Tim Salt (Banana Da Terra), Kat Chaffin, Joel Lancaster (Dual at Dawn), De León, Nate Harris, Sonia Kelley, Andy Eubanks, Smith and others.
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