Junk Music

The Junkman

by Steve Auger

Donald Knaack, also known as The Junkman, is so cool I couldn't help but dedicating this Trash Thursday to him and his junk music. No, his music isn't junk, but he performs on junk and recycled materials. In his bio he describes his music as:

"a unique collection of infectious grooves and musical styles that's gaining audiences from every spectrum of the music business - from rock to jazz to world music. Impossible to categorize, worldwide audiences are recognizing Junk Music is eye-opening, provocative and entirely new."

The Junkman's latest CD, Junk Music 2, can be sampled here. You have to love this music with song titles such as:

• what the world needs now is packaging, more packaging
• styrofoam never dies
• built to last, fall apart
• SUVs SUCK gasoline

Essentially all percussion but very enjoyable to listen to.

The Junkman's Educational Offerings

One Week Residencies

 Provides a hands-on percussion/music introduction (pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics and phrasing) with an emphasis on teamwork, community building and recycle/reuse concerns.

Two Week Residencies

Two-week residencies for schools and communities. Students begin with a search-for and collection-of junk and recycled materials which are then assembled and built into a Junk Music Playstation, a sound sculpture made exclusively from recycled materials.

Interactive Concerts

 Tailored to various ages, the stage is filled with over 125 junk objects that have been recycled into instruments of music. "The music covers a wide range of musical styles and infectious grooves-from a bossa nova to a samba and rock music (made with two stones) to music made from kitchen utensils."

More on The Junkman:

In addition to his musical accomplishments, the Junkman has developed a program entitled HOP (Help Out Planet), awarded the 2008 Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. This program involves teaching and involving Vermont students in the Three Rs and better environmental citizenry.

More yet...
"The Junkman also constructs Junk Music Playstations, sound sculptures made exclusively from recycled materials in which large numbers of persons can simultaneously have a Junkjam. The Playstations are constructed for schools, festivals and museums."

 "In April, 2006, his full length opera ODIN, for spoken word artists and amplified percussion orchestra - all performing on recycled materials, was premiered at the Loewe Theatre in New York City. Highlights of this work were successfully presented at the Aspen Music Festival in August, 2005."

"A track off his new CD entitled Junk Music 2 appears on a new television commercial for ESPN entitled Makeshift, which was directed by award-winning director Mark Romanek (Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Beck and more...). A second track was used by ESPN for the promotional commercials for the 2005 NBA Playoffs. A third track is currently playing on a worldwide television commercial for EA Sports Games. His CD Junk Music was nominated for a Grammy in 1999. "

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Thank you very much Mr. Junkman for introducing me to your very interesting profession. It has made my day in so many ways.