Michael Falkenstein
    on B-3P mk2

Michael Falkenstein is one of the few musicians who really governs three actions simultaneously: while his hands take care of two manuals of 61 keys each he also manages 25 Bass-Pedals and changes all registrations live during his play – nothing is pre-programmed.

From an early age, Michael spent most of his time in the workshop of his father Klaus Maier who specialized in Hammond & Leslie. Inspired by countless musicians who brought their instruments for repair, he started his first organ-lessons at the age of four. As his father repaired all kinds of Hammond-models Michael could study each one and was fascinated to discover the different characters of the organs.

When Michael was 11, his parents opened the Hammond-Organ-Studio. Suddenly there were 30 different Hammond-models to be discovered. From this time on Michael spent all his time testing, playing and demonstrating the various models. Also from the age of 11, for the next 20 years, Michael started teaching students playing Hammond-Organ.

His favourite organists were Wild Billl Davis, Jimmy Smith, Rosemary Bailey and Rhoda Scott, all of whom he met personally later on.

At 15, Michael performed his first solo organ-concert. Two years later he had his first performance on the Musikmesse in Frankfurt.

During his teenager-years and early twenties Michael performed as "Mike Hammond" (detail in Michael´s official passport).

Since 1992 he is manager for Hammond in Germany.

In 1995 Michael met his mental godfather – James Brown – the King Of Soul, who later even visited his home. In 1998 James Brown 'knighted' him during a concert to the "Prince Of Soul". Michael had many Solo-Organ-Performances all over the world from England to Australia.

Michael lives Hammond. He loves the Hammond-organs and Leslie-speakers for their authentic own sound and identity and the possibility to express feelings outright into exact the sound which is in mind through the wonderful harmonic drawbars.

Michael Falkenstein experiences music as part of life, as a universal language. He wishes to bring about understanding between diverse people and bring together extremes. Interest, respect and honour of other people's thoughts and feelings are the basis of evolving friendship. By his own energy and positive example Michael Falkenstein desires to encourage creative thinking and real inner peace.