Tim Schuller

Tim "Mit" Schuller ''(né'' Fredric Thomas Schuller; Salem, Ohio – 29 February 2012, Dallas, Texas) was an American, Dallas–Fort Worth-based music critic, who, for 37 years – from 1975 until his death – chronicled living blues and jazz musicians, mostly from Texas (particularly from the Dallas–Fort Worth area and the Southwest).

Career

Some of Schullers writings – notably those about Freddie King, Buster Smith, and Lightnin' Hopkins – have been cited in academic and encyclopedic publications. According to a '' Buddy'' magazine staff editor, Schuller provided blues pianist Boston Smith ''(né'' Boston Beverly Smith; 1907–1989) (Buster Smith's brother) with an epitaph worthy of his achievements.

He also was an update editor of the 2002 revised edition of ''MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide'' ( Schirmer Trade Books / Omnibus Press). At the time of his death, he had been writing a book, ''Scorning All Borders'', covering 30 years of writing about Texas jazz and blues artists.

Early years

Schuller was born in Salem, Ohio, to Frederick Kane Schuller (1908–1956) and Mary Louise Layden (maiden; 1912–2005). Tim's father, who had been a newspaper journalist, died when he was seven. As a teenager, Tim attended Salem High School, graduating in 1967. During his senior year, he was the feature editor of the ''Salem Quaker,'' his high school newspaper. Tim went on to study at Kent State University at Salem, but did not graduate. In Ohio, Schuller had worked as a musician (playing guitar), a factory worker, and a stringer reporter.

Schuller then moved to Chicago with his childhood friend from Salem, Tom "Mot" Dutko ''(né'' Thomas Lawrence Dutko; 1949–2017), a blues drummer. Who went on to record with Little Al Thomas and the Crazy Horse Band, Billy Branch, and Eddie Shaw. In Chicago, Schuller played with Robert Lockwood Jr. and John Brim. Dutko also played drums for Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Homesick James, Jimmy Walker, Erwin Helfer, and Eddie Taylor.

Schuller moved to Dallas around 1977 and briefly embarked in the record business. In 1977, he was worked at Peaches Records & Tapes at Cole and Fitzhugh Avenues, Dallas. Ken E. Shimamoto (born 1957), a music journalist in Dallas worked there with him. In 1980, Schuller was assistant manager at Sound Town at the Valley View Mall in Dallas.

Over the next 35 years, Schuller contributed to the following newspapers, periodicals, and records:

Periodicals and newspapers

# ''Guitar Player,'' ''Living Blues,'' ''Blues Access''
# ''The Met'' (Dallas' arts & entertainment weekly)
# ''Southwest Blues''
# ''DownBeat''
# '' Buddy'' magazine
# ''Texas Jazz''
# ''Juke Blues''
# '' Coda''
# ''Crazy Music'' (the journal of the Australian Blues Society)
# ''D Magazine''
# ''Dallas Morning News,''
# ''Dallas Observer''
# ''Texas Observer

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