Photo instructor snaps and strums

Michael Smith performing in Ann Arbor with his band and father. Courtesy of Michael Smith

WCC teacher Michael Smith practices music and photography

Alisa Chmerenko
Contributor

Michael Smith is a teacher who spent around 20 years coaching photography in the WCC. While photography is something he enjoys, music is also a passion of his.

Smith has mastered numerous instruments, such as guitar, banjo and ukulele. By reading books, and devoting his time, he started to learn how to play a guitar when he was 12 years old.

“I do not know, just I love music,” Smith said on what started his passion for music at a young age. He also shared that his whole family has an experience in playing different instruments.

“So, I started to play. I just wanted to do it a lot. I liked folk music and I wanted to be able to sing and play,” he said.

Julia Gleich, a part time digital media lab coordinator at WCC, was also extremely impressed by Smith’s musical expertise.

“What amazes me is how broad his knowledge is—including the instruments that go with it,” she said. “The best has to be when he comes into our office space and serenades us with his Ukelele. It’s absolute heaven.”

On the other hand, Smith’s favorite memory is playing in Dearborn after being hired to play during a public campaign meeting in 1977.

“We played one of my all-time favorite songs called “Coal Tattoo” by Billy Ed Wheeler, about a guy who is a mine worker but doesn’t feel that anyone stands up for him. It’s a great song and I still play it,” Smith said.

Smith expresses what emotions he has after all the long years of performing.

“There is always excitement, there is always the thrill of the idea of making people happy,” he said. “I’m sharing because I hope it makes people happy. This way I take pictures because I hope it makes people happy.”

Link to band website: https://bowdish-brothers.com/songs.html