a brief history
Mingo
“…And it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before” – Bob Dorr (Musician and longtime radio host at radio station KUNI)
Using a modified Casio keyboard and a boombox –Mingo’s first electronic project received airplay on local college radio stations. Mingo’s music was unique even among the eclectic mix featured on college radio.
"Mingo looks more like a Sunday school teacher than a guy who makes a living promoting underground activity” – The Cedar Rapids Gazette
In the early 1990’s, influenced by the music and the underground dance scene spreading throughout Europe – Mingo became an early pioneer in the American rave scene. Mingo was a co-founder of Sonar Productions, a premier rave promotional group in the U.S.A . In addition to promoting parties, Mingo DJ’d and performed live P.A.’s at events throughout the Midwest. His sound ranged from an upbeat 140bpm Euro-Trance style to a much slower, Ambient sound with a heavy influence from acts such as The Orb and Tangerine Dream.
“The Once And Future World”
In 1999, after watching an episode of “Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict” – having been inspired by the title of the episode, “The Once And Future World” - Mingo started working on his first full length ambient/space album. After a marathon 72 hour recording session, he released the album via the internet. In 2005, the album was re-mastered and re-released and received airplay throughout North America and Europe and on notable long time ambient radio shows such as NPR’s “The Hearts of Space” and “Stars End”.
“…Captivating and sonically fascinating …Mingo has become a seasoned practitioner of this art form.”
In 2015, Mingo released his 11th ambient album, “The Blue Star”. Over the years, in addition to the array of analog and digital equipment, Mingo has included tribal percussion, digeridoo, the shakuhachi flute and other organic instrumentation into his sound.
“Off the grid and underground”
After the release of “The Blue Star”, Mingo went “off the grid”, taking temporary residence in a canyon in a desolate part of the Western United States. With no electricity, cell towers or fuel within miles, Mingo explored the area’s petroglyphs, created by the area’s ancient inhabitants – with possible extra-terrestrial alien connections. His travels and exploration influence his sound. Influences from his recent journeys can be found on his latest albums "Above A Fractured Sky" and the cybernaut influenced "Myristica".
Even while Mingo’s music maintains consistent airplay with considerable chart position on the New Age/Ambient/World music charts and is featured on syndicated programs such as “Hearts of Space” and “Echoes” – staying true to the electronic dance scene early in his career, Mingo and his music remains underground. He occasionally performs live at art galleries and coffee houses near his current home in Colorado.
Mingo is on the Sonarweb Communications record label
and is represented by Zen Ultra Space Management