True Self

Steve Bookvich, AKA Muruga Booker

"Age: 65    Home: Ann Arbor

Claim to fame: Gifted drummer with a distinguished performance and recording resume. He is also a Greek Orthodox priest who opens his Ann Arbor home every Sunday and Thursday morning for services. He played drums at Woodstock with folk musician Tim Hardin and met Swami Satchidananda, who gave him the name Muruga. Bookvich is known in the music world as Muruga Booker.
Since moving back to Michigan in 2000, he formed the bands Muruga and The Global Village Ceremonial Band, and Free Funk. Bookvich also studies iconography and teaches yoga and drums. His home chapel, St. Gregory Palamas, is trying to raise enough money to buy land in Ann Arbor to build a church.

Why do you do what you do? Because the Holy Spirit leads me to it, and I love it. The Spirit is the creative power of God so we co-create. God makes the grapes. We make the wine.

What are the top three highlights from your music career? 1: Inventing the Nada drum. 2: Recording "Blues from the Rain Forest" with Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia, which was a Grammy nominated album. 3: Receiving the 1991 Hiroshima Voices for Peace award.

What are your favorite words? Father, Christ and Holy Spirit.

Who would you like to be for a day? My true self.

What is your greatest fear? Being disconnected from God, the uncreated light and spirit of all.

What is your greatest success? My happy family: wife, Patty; son, Aaron; daughter, Rani; and my priesthood.

What qualities do you most admire in others? Loving, humble, selfless, serving the needy, talented, joyful, humorous, spiritual, peaceful, hard working, friendly.

What are some of your favorite Web sites? ancientfaith.com; theark.org; cheftalk.com; light-n-life.com; allaboutjazz.com; drummers.com; amazon.com; digidesign.com; frankannunziata.com.

Do you have a Web site? Yes: musartcompany.com; www.murugabooker.com; myspace.com/muruga; myspace.com/freefunkspace; musartcompany.com; saintgregorypalamas.org; origin-institute.org.

What are your favorite possessions? My family and friends; my priesthood; my God-given talents.

You have pledged to encourage young talent. Why are you such a big fan of the brother-sister duo from Pittsfield Township who call themselves The White Ravens? To me they are a cross between The Beatles and The White Stripes, mixed with ragtime and jazz. I play with them not to just help them but because I love their music. They are a great indie group - and only 16 and 17 years old."

Interview by Jo Mathis