Michael Marcus Hearst (born December 27, 1972) is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, and producer. He is best known for his solo albums Songs For Ice Cream Trucks, Songs For Unusual Creatures, Songs For Fearful Flyers, Songs For Unconventional Vehicles and Songs For Extraordinary People, as well as the children's books Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, Curious Constructions and Unconventional Vehicles. He has composed the music for a number of films including The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, Chicken People, To Be Takei, Magic Camp, and House of Suh. In 2014, he co-produced and co-directed Unusual Creatures, a ten-episode series for PBS Digital Studios.[1] Hearst is also a founding member of the eclectic musical group One Ring Zero.
In 2007 Hearst composed a collection of songs to reminisce ice cream truck music. According to Hearst, "I got really frustrated with ice cream trucks passing by and playing the same songs over and over again. I thought somebody needs to write new songs for ice cream trucks. I realized that was going to be me. There was no one else who was going to do it."[5][6]
Songs For Fearful Flyers includes seven long-form instrumental compositions intended to calm nervous travelers. The album features a spoken word cameo from actress Whoopi Goldberg.[8]
In the fall of 2024, Hearst began releasing a series of reinterpretations of 1980s songs under the project title 80 From The 80s. Over the course of the project, eighty songs will be released as singles, with a new track dropping every other week. The releases feature guest vocals from a variety of artists, including Amanda Palmer, Stephin Merritt, John Linnell, Jonathan Coulton, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Krystle Warren, John Cameron Mitchell, Amber Martin, and Syd Straw.[14] Hearst says of the project, "80 From The 80s aims to entertain and perhaps provide a little bit of respite from the current political climate, reminding us of a time when you could still 'catch the deluge in a paper cup.'" [15][16]
Hearst has performed and given lectures and workshops at universities, museums, and cultural centers around the world. He has also appeared on NPR's Fresh Air,[17][18] A+E's Breakfast With The Arts, and NBC's The Today Show.
In 2008, Hearst toured with The Magnetic Fields as their support act, reading flash-non-fiction stories, and performing selections from Songs For Newsworthy News.[27]
On February 28, 2012, the Kronos Quartet performed the world premiere of Hearst's composition "Secret Word" at Zankel Hall. The work is a tribute to the late-1980s television series Pee-wee's Playhouse. For the debut performance, Hearst joined the quartet on stage, performing claviola, theremin, and daxophone, and also conducting a toy instrument orchestra of audience members who took the stage.[30]
Hearst earned a degree in music composition from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995, where he studied under Dika Newlin. In 2017 Hearst returned to VCU to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of the School of the Arts. The commencement ceremony took place at the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia.[31]
Discography
Albums
Schwa Footleg Room (1991) (Joe Lee Records)
Schwa Phoney Karate (1992) (Joe Lee Records)
Fashion Central Underwood (1994) (Brilliant Records)
The Recipe Project (2011) (Black Balloon Publishing)
Unusual Creatures (2012) (Chronicle Books)
Extraordinary People (2015) (Chronicle Books)
Curious Constructions (2017) (Chronicle Books)
Unconventional Vehicles (2021) (Chronicle Books)
Video
One Ring Zero "Addendum" (2005) (music video collection)[32]
As subject One Ring Zero "As Smart As They Are" (2006) (documentary film)[33]
Songs For Unusual Creatures (2013–2014) (PBS Digital) 10-episode series.[34]
"The Aye-aye" (pilot episode)
"The Jesus Christ Lizard"
"The Elephant Shrew"
"The Giant Anteater"
"The Glass Frog"
"The Magnapinna Squid"
"The Blobfish"
"The Sea Pig"
"The Tardigrade"
"The Chinese Giant Salamander"
"The Bilby"
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↑ Hearst, Michael (May 12, 2015). Extraordinary People: A Semi-Comprehensive Guide to Some of the World's Most Fascinating Individuals: Michael Hearst, Aaron Scamihorn: 9781452127095: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN978-1452127095.
↑ Hearst, Michael (April 25, 2017). Curious Constructions: A Peculiar Portfolio of Fifty Fascinating Structures (Uncommon Compendiums): Michael Hearst, Matt Johnstone: 9781452144849: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN978-1452144849.
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