The Peace and Purpose of Mike Farris’ Captivating Music
By Brian D’Ambrosio / POP Matters
Mike Farris entered a different planet during those long school bus rides in Franklin County, Tennessee. It was the world of radio. The bus driver fixed the dial to WCDT (1340 AM). Its flavors were notably diverse, from country to rock and roll to Motown and soul, from Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn to the Staples Singers and Al Green.
“I was a quiet kid and sitting on the bus and soaking in this station,” said Farris. “I didn’t have a dream about music. My parents were too busy trying to feed us. We were the only isolated house down the road. No family, no friends nearby. It was me and the radio, looking out the window. As a little kid, music fed my desire to be in another world, to be someplace where there was a lot of life.”
Mike’s father had a small but telling record collection. Five records were in the inventory: two of them by Hank Williams. Two recordings were done by Jimmie Rodgers. One of them was from Johnny Cash. The other was a Tennessee Ernie Ford record.
Mike bought his first harmonica at age 18, after he received his GED, and left Franklin County in favor of Knoxville. “Everyone had a vision and a plan,” said Mike Farris. “They were going to college or vocational school. I had no plan. I was floating around. There was a rockabilly band called the Boogie Disease, and they were incredible. The lead singer to this day (Isaiah “Ike” Ross) was the greatest frontman I have ever seen in my life.”