Born June 19, Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Second of 5 kids.
Mom: social worker/professor. Dad: architect/city planner. Soon after emerging, receives first Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger records. Leaves Philly at 6 months, not under own power, but reportedly with enthusiasm.

Grows up (or not) in Litchfield Park, Arizona (once a Goodyear Tire & Rubber company town) -- village 20 miles west of Phoenix. Collects lizards and snakes. Rides in the Goodyear Blimp. Bitten by ants, stung by scorpions. Is very hot. Knows all water fountains in area. Hangs out in cold vegetable section of corner grocery for significant parts of summer. Burns feet every year from melted asphalt, a necessary ritual.

Meets Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath when they play golf in Litchfield! Rides in their golf carts.

Moves with family to Southern Ontario. Hates it. Retreats to room with radio.

Still in room. Memorizes top 100.

Returns to Arizona. Continues practice of staying in room. Starts playing guitar in there. Sees Arlo Guthrie at Grady Gammage, Tempe. Soon realizes that his life has been drastically (some might say tragically) affected by the event.

Begins flatpicking and fingerpicking guitar in earnest. Picks up mandolin and banjo for first time. Resists others' wishes that he put them down. First performance: Crazy Ed's Place, Deer Valley, Arizona. Nearly soils trousers in fear. Later that year: first paid gig(!), playing with Phoenix Dixieland and Western Music maven Igor Glenn at same Crazy Ed's.

Wins first Bluegrass flatpicking contest. Still has ribbons. Charter member of "Save a Turtle for Jesus Society". Preaches nightly with friends on CB radio. Spends some time avoiding angry people in large trucks with long antennas...

1976

Works as extra in Barbra Streisand's "A Star Is Born". Gets screen time (wearing red flannel shirt. Ask for details). Meets and works briefly with Bill Graham.

Leaves high school, finishes up via correspondence classes. Goes straight to Arizona State. Eats pizza, plays instruments and does not thrive academically. Joins Joshua Stone, a popular local bluegrass band. Sees much of Arizona by truck and honky tonk.

Not much happens. Practices.

Joins Normal Brothers, local legends of Arizona bluegrass/progressive country music scene. First travels beyond state borders as musician. Is denied entry to Phoenix Hoyt Axton show because of "faulty" fake ID. Pounds on bus door. Axton, after extracting information in regards to bus air-conditioning repair, allows him access to show.

Normal Brothers dissolve. In November, MC applies to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

January: Moves to Key West, FL, ostensibly to spend a BEOG grant, study marine biology, small marine engine repair and learn to scuba dive. Packs all belongings, dog (Francois le Pooch) and self into Dodge Dart and drives east. Two days later, dog is run over by 6 uniformed San Antonio cheerleaders with megaphones. Next day, clothes are stolen from car in New Orleans. Day after that, stuck in race riots in Liberty City near Miami. Some week. Arrives in Key West. Finds employment as counselor for juvenile delinquents. Recognizes post as case of blind leading the blind. Teaches music. Builds steel drums. Writes to Pete Seeger for advice; unexpectedly receives response. Works on commercial swordfishing boat. Sails to Mariel, Cuba, on "Freedom Flotilla" boatlift. Comes back with 200 Cubans, a couple of bottles of rum and many cigars. Is seen on "Walter Cronkite" by neighbors. Butchers many fish. Sees many strange things (including his crewmates). To his relief, is notified of acceptance and financial aid at Vassar. Goes up to Poughkeepsie and moves in.

Meets Pete Seeger (first words: "Matt, do you play the banjo?"). Becomes involved with environmental group, The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Performs w/ Pete and others at many Clearwater events. Majors in biopsychology (interests: dolphins, brain physiology and pharmacology; understanding consciousness, lack of it, and whatever happens in between.)

Graduates. Goes to Europe. Returns to Arizona. Hooks back up with members of Normal Brothers, now named "Two Week Notice" Plays Western states "honky tonk circuit".

Works on Coen Brothers' "Raising Arizona" (check the credits!). Recorded song which was not used. Will not disclose what job really entailed, even under pressure.

Is selected as "AZ State traditional artist", plays concerts across west and northwest. Plays folk festivals, conducts school residencies. Moonlights as substitute teacher at old high school (spelled: revenge). Is known by students as "Doctor Doom". Encourages subversion. Even so, gets to hang out in teachers lounge. Never adapts to the weirdness of it all... Becomes country and folk music writer for New Times Weekly and LA Times Syndicate. Makes enemies in local music community. Moves to Santa Monica.

Finds difficulty in making a living as a musician. Gets an office job in Music Video Babylon. Is fired. Breathes sigh of relief.

Scores first movie, a documentary feature, "The Last Rivermen". Receives some praise, no money.

Writes Saturday morning cartoon, "T-Rex". Composes for CBS prime-timer, "The Women of Country Music". Receives some royalties. Is immensely gratified, not to mention grateful. Meets Ry Cooder at YMCA. Has now met all living personal musical heroes; can die reasonably happy.

Produces stage and performs at UCLA Troubadours of Folk Festival. Works with Arlo Guthrie, Joni Mitchell, Richard Thompson, Jack Elliot, Eric Andersen, Ben Harper, Syd Straw, Ronee Blakely, Beausoleil, John Hammond, Jr. and others. Is left holding the bag when bastard promoter rips him (and many performers) off. Resolves to live and learn.

Learns that bastard promoter is now selling Amway products. Hopes he isn't successful. Plays McCabe’s periodically. Goes to Nashville for a little while. Doesn't like it much.

Hooks up with satirical/topical bluegrassers, the Austin Lounge Lizards. Tours with them on bass for some months. Has time of life. Produces records. Recognizes Austin as musical Valhalla. Becomes devoted to barbeque. Begins regular exercise program.

Composes some music for Jonny Quest cartoon revival. Works as session musician. Specialty: roots music. Instruments: guitar, bottleneck, steel, mandolin, mandola, banjo, harmonica, accordion, fiddle, piano, bass, other weird stuff...Is contacted by Bryndle's Kenny Edwards.

Hooks up with Bryndle. Accumulates frequent flyer miles and learns the true meaning of "Bainbridge".