Michael Utley

{{for multi|the American football player|Mike Utley|the British admiral|Mike Utley (Royal Navy officer)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Michael Utley

| image = coral reefer band.jpg

| caption = Utley Performing With The Coral Reefer Band, June 2009

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Michael Edward Utley

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947}}

| birth_place = Blytheville, Arkansas

| genre = {{flatlist|

Gulf and Western
country
folk
rock}}

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Keyboard}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Keyboard player
Producer}}

| associated_acts = Jimmy Buffett · Coral Reefer Band · Robert Greenidge · Rita Coolidge · Kris Kristofferson · Jerry Jeff Walker · Jackson Browne · Gene Clark

}}

Michael Edward Utley (born 1947) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and was the musical director and keyboard player for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. After Buffett's death he retired from touring and was replaced by his son Mick who had been in the band in a part-time role for a few years.

Early life and education

Utley was born in Blytheville in Mississippi County, Arkansas. In 1969, he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in zoology. He then debated either taking pre-med lab exam or going to Memphis and help Tony Joe White record his second album and chose the latter.{{Cite news | url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/feb/26/longtime-buffett-producer-utley-back-home-20120226/ | title=Longtime Buffett producer Utley is back in home state | first=Jack W. | last=Hill | work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | date=February 26, 2012}}

In college, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was recognized by Sigma Chi as a Significant Sig in 2017.{{Cite web | url=https://issuu.com/sigmachifdn/docs/ar-2017 | title=Sigma Chi Foundation - 2017 Annual Report | date=November 14, 2017 | via=Issuu}}

Career

In 1970, Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler invited Utley to work at Criteria Studios. Utley worked with the house band for Atlantic Records in Miami, Florida's Criteria Studios backing performers such as Aretha Franklin, Jerry Jeff Walker, and the Allman Brothers and in California playing with Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson.

In 1973, Jerry Jeff Walker recruited Utley to play keyboard instruments on Buffett's first major label album, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean. Utley continued to work with other performers in the mid-1970s while appearing on Buffett's subsequent albums until Buffett's 1977 breakout Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes when he joined the Coral Reefer Band full-time.

Utley has title credit on several albums, the first being an instrumental record with fellow Coral Reefer Band member Robert Greenidge titled Mad Music.

Utley has produced or co-produced several of Buffett albums beginning with One Particular Harbour in 1983. From 1981-2023, he toured full-time with the Coral Reefers.{{Cite web | url=https://www.arkansasalumni.org/s/1429/bp20/interior.aspx?sid=1429&gid=1&pgid=6149&cid=14192 | title=Michael E. Utley B.A.'69 | publisher=University of Arkansas}}

Personal life

Utley's son, Mick, is married to the daughter of Mac McAnally, also a member of the Coral Reefer Band. After Buffett's death Michael retired from touring and his son Mick took over the role of playing the keyboards fulltime in the Coral Reefer Band. {{Cite news | url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2015-05-27/jimmy-buffett-surfs-stubbs/ | title=Jimmy Buffett Surfs Stubb's | first=RAOUL | last=HERNANDEZ | work=The Austin Chronicle | date=May 27, 2015}}

In popular media

During Jimmy Buffett's 1979 song "Volcano," Utley's name is mentioned. Right before the first solo, Jimmy Buffett says "Mr. Utley." This leads into the solo.{{Cite web | url=https://genius.com/Jimmy-buffett-volcano-lyrics | title=Volcano - Jimmy Buffett | publisher=Genius}}

Discography

Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Mad Music MCA 5695. (1986). re-released on CD (11/05).
Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Jubilee (1987). re-released on CD (12/05).
Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Heat (1988).
Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Club Trini. (1996).
Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Back in Town. (1999).
Robert Greenidge & Michael Utley (as Club Trini). Margaritaville Cafe: Late Night Live. (2000).