MICHAEL ROSSETTO
†
Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Michael, moved to Minneapolis in 1997, and has performed in groups, Autopilota and Jack Pine Savage. He is the originator/founding member of Spaghetti Western/Spaghetti Western String Co. and handles the duties of banjo and guitar for the group. His parents, immigrated to America from Italy, by boat, in 1956 and it is their story that began to fuel the idea for a musical solo project about a soundtrack to the American immigrant experience. Michael began writing material that mixed electronics and acoustic instruments in the winter of 2003 and performed these songs in Minneapolis as a one-man band under the moniker, 'Spaghetti Western' (a nod to his Italian roots). These shows were complete with looping devices, banjo, pedal steel, vibes, guitars, drum machines and tape loops. As he began recording this material - for what became the LP, 'Do Right By People' (Adonis), in the spring of 2004, his one man band developed into a working group featuring local musicians Denise Guelker (violin), Nicholas Lemme (mandolin), and Travis Even (melodica/percussion/accordion). In the winter of 2005, the group's lineup changed as Ethan Sutton (cello) joined. 'Spaghetti Western' was renamed, 'Spaghetti Western String Co.' and currently performs as an acoustic quartet.