Editing Michael Hedges (section)

==Early years==
The son of Thayne Alden Hedges and Ruth Evelyn Hedges Ipsen, Michael Hedges was born in [[Sacramento, California]]. His life in music began in [[Enid, Oklahoma]], playing flute and guitar.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=590}}</ref> He enrolled at [[Phillips University]] in Enid to study classical guitar and composition under E. J. Ulrich, who Hedges credited as his biggest influence from his academic training. Hedges studied as a composition major at [[Peabody Conservatory]] in Baltimore, Maryland<ref name="Larkin"/> where he applied his classical  background to [[steel-string acoustic guitar]], also studying [[electronic music]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HD_NyXNyw4 Michael Hedges - Interview Enid, OK], with Janice Anrukaitis (published on YouTube, Aug 24, 2010)</ref>

Hedges made a living by playing and singing in bars and restaurants in Baltimore while a student at Peabody. From 1976 to 1977 he played electric guitar and flute for a local group called Lotus Band, which he left to start performing as a solo acoustic act. In 1980, he made plans to move to California to study music at [[Stanford University]].<ref name="Larkin"/> Hedges was contacted in February 1981 by [[William Ackerman]] who heard him perform at the Varsity Theater in [[Palo Alto]]. On a napkin, Ackerman signed Hedges to a recording contract with [[Windham Hill Records]].<ref name="Larkin"/>