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Mike has actually been called, “The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso.” (He’d settle for Cleveland’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso but... whatever). Mike currently performs over 120 shows per year, and cuts from his “Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall” CD are in current rotation on XM Comedy, Sirius Comedy, and on countless morning radio shows nationwide.
Concert promoter Mark Johnson described him like this: “If Victor Borge played guitar (and drank too much coffee), he’d sound like Mike.” The Aspen Daily News raves, “A comic genius... enough wit and talent to jumpstart a pacemaker.”
Mike is an hilarious stand-up comic. His “Questions” bit and self-effacing commentaries are funny and wonderfully-warped. But what sets him apart is his masterful guitar work.
Mike is also known for combining musical artists and styles in ways God never intended. “Bob Marley sings Garth Brooks.” “Led Zeppelin sings Dr. Seuss.” “Dan Fogelberg sings AC/DC,” “Bruce Springsteen sings Green Acres,” etc.
Putting his guitar skills to work, Mike is taking on a new challenge: instrumental comedy. His first piece in this genre appears on his live “Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall” CD. Entitled “Hang The Jury,” it is a piece said to have been performed for his classical guitar juries (final exams) in college, just to find out if his music professors were really listening.
We caught up with Mike for a candid Q&A.
CWG: What were you doing before you were funny?
Working my way out of a womb. I think it was my Mom's. Actually, I was driving a forklift.
CWG: Tell us about how you came up with your act.
Drunk people. I was studying classical guitar during the day and playing bars at night fielding drunken requests... when you do that for nearly 2000 gigs you develop either a sense of humor or a drinking problem. I'm working on the sense of humor.
Actually, it's a rather convenient personality disorder. I've always liked putting things together God never intended just to see what happens. As a baby I put my bottle in my diaper and Dad said, "That's my boy!" And when you can turn a personality disorder into a career, you've got something going.
Like if I was Sybil I'd be freakin' rich. (There's an old reference).
CWG: Public figures get all the girls… musicians get all the girls… if you're taking all our girls (as by this logic, being a public speaker and a musician, you're getting 100% of every girl you meet) how do the rest of us non-musician/public speakers get girls?
You seem nice enough, how about I share? But only after you download a bunch of my bits (I'm cheap but not free). But really, who wants EVERY woman he meets, Bill Clinton notwithstanding?
Secondly, and truthfully now, all those woman got rolled into one whom I married (you think I don't know she reads this stuff?). I'm getting by just fine.
CWG: What was the first guitar you ever bought?
Bought? A 1973 Martin D-28.
Was given? 1973 Yamaha FG-160.
Best one I own? 100% original 1959 Strat.
One I play most often? A BEAUTIFUL 2003 Taylor Limited Edition 614 (pictured on my homepage).
