Ralph Heibutzki

Born and raised in southwest Michigan, I've been writing since I was old enough to put pen to paper.

The collision of music and culture has been a crucial interest from my preteen years; it remains a major motivation for any project I take on today.

I hold a B.A. degree in journalism from Michigan State University, but my real writing education has been forged by experience; the more atypical, the better. How else would I have played bass for a London garage-punk combo, at the height of Acid House mania?

To keep up my landlord's confidence, I've freelanced for assorted music rags and Web sites since 1992...as well as good old-fashioned print journalism.

I remain in the wilds of Michigan, where inspiration is never at a premium.