Artis the Spoonman | |
|---|---|
 Artis (left) performing withJim Page at Seattle'sUniversity District Street Fair (1993) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1948-10-03)October 3, 1948 (age 77) |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, entertainer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Sapphire |
| Website | artisthespoonman.net |
Artis, known professionally asArtis the Spoonman (born October 3, 1948), is an Americanstreet performer and musician fromSeattle, Washington, who usesspoons as a musical instrument.
He frequents thePike Place Market accompanying singer/songwriter and guitaristJim Page with his collection of spoons of different shapes and sizes and materials spread out on a blanket.[1] In addition to spoons, he plays the flute and recorder.[2] To the larger public, he is probably best known for his collaborations withSoundgarden andFrank Zappa. He has also performed internationally (Australia, Canada, Japan, USA) with multi-instrumentalist and tap dancing sax player Shoehorn, also known as MC Shoehorn, starting at Expo 88 in Australia.
Artis had been active since 1972 as a street artist[3] when he had his first collaboration with a major artist, appearing on stage with Frank Zappa inEugene, Oregon, and at New York's Palladium, in 1981.[4][5]
In 1992, Artis made a guest appearance, (as local talent), atBumbershoot,Seattle, which that year featured a lineup of acts includingSoundgarden, who were to become instrumental in bringing Artis to the attention of a wider audience.
In 1993, he published a compilation of his poems and short stories calledArtis-Aspirations to Manifestations from the Womb to the Void.[6] In 1994, anNPR'sMorning Edition focused on him and his rejection of material values.[7] His song "Wake Up Call" opened the 1995 compilationNorthwest Post-Grunge.[8]
In the same year, he recorded "Spoonman" with Soundgarden, a song written byChris Cornell, and named for and featuring Artis for an upcoming albumSuperunknown. He played the spoons in the song and appeared in the music video.[9] On their 1994 tour, he opened up for the band in New York City, and Shepherd's Bush in London.[10] The single charted at number three on the USMainstream Rock Tracks chart and at number nine on the USModern Rock Tracks chart.[11] The song also became a top twenty hit on theUK Singles Chart.[12] In 1995, the song won theGrammy Award forBest Metal Performance.[13]
Chris Cornell commented:
It's more about the paradox of who [Artis] is and what people perceive him as. He's a street musician, but when he's playing on the street, he is given a value and judged completely wrong by someone else. They think he's a street person, or he's doing this because he can't hold down a regular job. They put him a few pegs down on the social ladder because of how they perceive someone who dresses differently. The lyrics express the sentiment that I much more easily identify with someone like Artis than I would watch him play.[14]
On November 10, 1995, he released an album titledEntertain the Entertainers. The album was rated four and a half stars out of five byAllmusic.com who called his release "an exceptional album showing off a very good range for an artist that would otherwise be known more for the gimmick of his chosen instruments, regardless of his abilities on them."[15]
Artis has performed at many festivals, mostly in Canada and the United States. Other bands he has played with includeAerosmith andPhish, and he has been a featured performer at Seattle'sBumbershoot Festival (2003 and 2004)[16] and theOregon Country Fair. He was a featured performer at the 2013 Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle.
Artis has made television appearances on Night Music with David Sanborn,BBC, andLate Night with David Letterman, among others. He plays an old man in the 1995 filmToast with the Gods.[17]
Artis has stated he was a sailor in theUnited States Navy in the late 1960s, and worked for theUnited States Postal Service in the early 1970s.[1]
Artis suffered a heart attack in 2002,[18] and a benefit was organized for him in Seattle.[19] He was reported as receiving stateGeneral Assistance Unemployable benefits from 2002 to 2010,[20] and federalSSI benefits with alcoholism-related mental disability as of 2011.[21]
Since 2009, he has lived inPort Townsend, Washington.[22]
He also recorded a session for Frank Zappa.
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