Bartender made art and music with the same dexterity and measure of whimsy he brought to his bartending
By Frederick N. Rasmussen (The baltimore Sun, 3/10/2012)
Michael Edward “Mick” King, a longtime Mount Royal Tavern bartender who in addition to pumping beer and pouring shots was an accomplished artist and sometime musician, died March 3 of a heart attack at the venerable Bolton Hill bar. The Govans resident was 47.
Mr. King, the day bartender, had reported for his shift last Saturday morning when he suddenly felt ill.
Friends of the Mount Royal Tavern — Facebook
He told owners Chris Kozak and Ron Carback he wasn't feeling well and went upstairs to a spare bedroom to rest.
“He later asked if we could get a replacement for him,” Mr. Carback said.
“When we went upstairs a little while later to check on him, he was gone. The paramedics came and worked on him for half an hour, but they pronounced him dead,” Mr. Kozak said.
“He was the heart and soul of the place,” said Mr. Carback. “When word got out about Mick, people were so overwhelmed and came here, where we held an impromptu wake. He was so well-loved.”
“The Mount Royal Tavern was his living room,” Mr. Kozak said. “He was even here when he wasn't working.”
“Mick was your typical crusty and curmudgeonly bartender type who loved everybody. He sometimes portrayed a gruff exterior, but he was probably the sweetest most sincere and genuinely affectionate guy in the place,” said Charlie Vascellaro, a Bolton Hill writer and tavern regular.
Mick King sculpture. (Photo by Pablo Fiasco)
Continue reading “Michael Edward ‘Mick' King” at The Baltimore Sun.
Photo via Friends of the Mount Royal Tavern — Facebook
When I first got the news last week of Mike’s passing, I was crushed. He was my punk rock mentor way back when in the 80’s when we both lived in Dalton Mass in the same neighborhood. I had been trying to reconnect with Mike through his nephew who introduced himself to me at my now closed record store/show space here in Pittsfield back in 2009(?). Thankfully his nephew did speak with Mike and gave him an update on what I was up to, which was great. Sadly, we never reconnected so I could try and get him to somehow give me some of his old punk records if he still had them 🙂
Mike was a great guy and the few friends I still speak with who also knew him, are better off because of him. Sounds like he continued to just be an all around great guy wherever he traveled. People like Mike are few and far between. He will be missed!
I was Mick’s first roommate when he moved to Baltimore. We shared a former funeral home in Pigtown with Bob Ferris. Over the years, I guess it’s possible that Mick provided other reasons for his moving to Baltimore, but when I met him he clearly stated that he had to experience the city where John Waters made all his movies. What other reason is there, really. For two years, I spent nearly everyday with him. I wouldn’t trade one second of that time for anything.
Nice to see comments from people that knew Mick years ago. He was so much more than just the bartender at MRT. Glad I knew him. He is missed.
Condolences from Minnesotans who loved Mick
In case people don’t know, there is a memorial tomorrow ( Saturday) from 4 pm to 6 pm at St. John’s in Charles Village , for Mick.