Mr. Fankhauser has been endorsed by Marquis Who’s Who as
a leader in the music field ARROYO GRANDE, CA, April 22, 2020, Marquis
Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles, is
proud to present Merrell Wayne Fankhauser with the Albert Nelson Marquis
Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Fankhauser
celebrates many years’ experience in his professional network, and has
been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials
and successes he has accrued in his field.
As a child growing up in Kentucky, Mr. Fankhauser was
inspired by his mother’s love of song. Watching her as a singer in big
bands and seeing his father sing and play the guitar as well, he found
that music was in his blood and pursued a career in the field himself.
After his parents bought him a ukulele, he started writing songs before
they moved to California and he received an electric guitar. By 15, he
was performing in local theaters and wrote songs for his band called The
Impacts. Del-Fi Records found the group and invited them to Los
Angeles, where they recorded an album of instrumental surf music called
"Wipeout," which launched his career.
Through his work with a number of
bands, he has parlayed his love of music to others. Backed by his
extensive expertise, Mr. Fankhauser served as a music teacher for
Lancaster Music from 1963 until 1966, and as a writer for Winston
Lansdowne Publications from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Today, he
channels his vast experiences and lifelong love of music into his work
as leader of the Merrell Fankhauser Band, president and producer of
Ocean Records, president of Fankhauser Music Publishing since 1990. From
1990 to 1995 he hosted a national satellite TV show "California Music."
For the past 20 years he has hosted a popular TV show that airs in
California and Hawaii called "Tiki Lounge." Although his career has been
filled with highlights, he is especially proud of following his dream. A
number of his songs have been selected for special honors, including
"Tomorrow’s Girl," which was included in the Rhino Records Grammy-
nominated compilation CD set "Where the Action is 1965-1967," and
"Lila," which was featured in the movie "Chappaquiddick." While starting
his musical career, Mr. Fankhauser studied at Allan Hancock College and
retains professional alignment with the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers. Throughout his career, he has sung and written a
plethora albums, including "Wipe Out", "Fapardokly," "HMS Bounty",
"MU", "Maui", "A Day In Paradise", "Message to the Universe," "Rockin
and Surfin," "Doctor Fankhauser" "Return To MU" , and hit songs
"Calling From a Star," "Things", "Girl I'm Waiting For You", "Tomorrows
Girl" and "Oceans of Intelligence."
He now has over 40 albums releases
and countless singles, re-issues and compilations of 128 releases.
Additionally, he had the honor of publishing an autobiography titled,
"Calling From a Star: The Merrell Fankhauser Story." He was also
featured in the 1992/1993 edition of Who's Who in entertainment. Over
the years he's had the privilege to perform with Willie Nelson, John
Cipollina, John McEuen, Ed Cassidy, Peter Noone, Nicky Hopkins, Jane
Russell and many others.
NOTICE
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have also noticed that the Gonzo Multimedia websites have changed and are in a process of flux, so there are no individual sales links at the moment. But check out www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk for a thing of wonder.
There is a hunky-dory, all singing, all dancing, Gonzo Publications website is now pretty well done, although there are still nine authors who need personal pages. You can find it at www.gonzopublishers.com and then tell me what a clever fellow I am. It even has a haiku to explain why some links are not finished:
"These links do not work,
now but they will do so soon,
we apologise"
Enjoy.
