Michael Riversong

Michael Riversong made a peaceful transition into the Next Life at 6:50 p.m. Saturday, June 20th at Oakridge Assisted Living Facility in Fort Collins after battling severe Diabetes and its complications for many years. The days before his passing, Halcyon provided Hospice care, and he was visited and prayed for by many close friends and relatives. Just before he took his last breath, witnesses observed him look up at the ceiling and joyfully exclaim, "Yay! Yay!" One of his harp CDs was playing at the time, and a caregiver said, "It was one of the most peaceful deaths I've seen." After devoting much of his life to creating peace and healing in the world, he is now at Peace and completely healed!

He was born Michael George Doran on February 22, 1952, in Denver, Colorado, to Phyllis Marie Dierksen and George Joseph Doran. As a child, he was curious about everything and a voracious reader, a habit he kept throughout his life. He was an exceptional student, graduating with honors from Thornton High School in 1970. In 1974, he graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Chinese Language, Anthropology, and Religious Studies. And then there was his music!

Michael came from a family of musicians, and his father played in the Cheyenne-based band "Jimmy Woodard and the Riders of the Western Plains". He started out playing drums at the age of 8, and guitar when he was 12. As he got older, he learned to play several types of reed instruments, and later, the harp, for which he is most famous. His father gave him the equivalent of a master's degree in music at home: theory, harmony, composition, and of course, performance. In 1982, he began intensive research into the health effects of music, which culminated in his creating the "7 Keys to Health" album series and guidebook.

In 1984, he chose his professional last name of "Riversong" and emerged as a multi-talented recording artist who performed throughout North America and Europe until the early 2000s when his health began failing. During that time, he released more than 30 albums of original music on which he played four different harps, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, balalaika, Appalachian dulcimer, steel guitar, keyboards, drums and percussion, recorders, and several Native American flutes. Most of his music was created for healing, well-being, meditation, and worship. True to his Irish father, he also released several albums of Celtic music. He contributed music scores to several video productions, and created a website called "Biblical Bards", www.biblicalbards.org . A bard is a community resource person who integrates the arts of history, healing, and music in the service of humanity. But then, almost everything Michael did was in the service of humanity!

During his lifetime, he performed for countless churches, civic groups, conferences, health societies, scientific organizations, and the Northern Colorado Observances of the International Hour For Peace. The below photo is him playing his Celtic harp at the 2010 Hour For Peace; it was on the front page of the Coloradoan.

Michael was also a scientist and an electrician. He got involved in broadcasting in 1976, and worked at several radio and TV stations over the next few years. In 1980, he began working in the solar energy business until 1984 when he started a microcomputer business. He also became involved with the International Tesla Society, which eventually led to writing a number of scientific articles on physics and meteorology. His expertise in Chinese language led him to become an expert in Feng Shui, the Chinese art of creating balance and harmony in the arrangement of rooms and buildings. In 1990, he began doing environmental surveys that covered every aspect of home and commercial environments as they affect health and well-being, including ergonomics, design, electromagnetism and air quality. In 1993, he became certified as an Environmental Building Inspector from the International Institute for Bau-Biologie and Ecology.

In 1996, his book "Design Ecology" was published by Borderland Sciences Research Foundation. He also published books on Environmental Therapy, Fundamentals of Geobiology, Fundamentals of Harmonic Chemistry, Cultural Geometry, and Essential Logic. In 2006, he founded "Tesla Academy" in order to provide knowledge about environmental health, advanced energy research, alternative energy sources, logic, and music to the general public. Visit www.TeslaAcademy.info for more information about his nonprofit organization.

Pursuing his passion for learning and sharing knowledge and wisdom, Michael served as a substitute teacher in the Cheyenne Public Schools from 2002 until 2014 when his health forced him into Assisted Living. His broad background enabled him to teach Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Math, Reading, English, Spanish, French, Physical Education, Health, Special Education, and of course, Music. He divided his time between Cheyenne and Northern Colorado, and was a member of both Cheyenne Brethren Church and Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship.

Michael is preceded in death by his mother and father, George and Phyllis Doran. He is survived by his sister Alison Doran of Laytonville, CA; his daughter Rhianna Walorski of Larkspur, CO; and two sons, Verdi Riversong (15) and Bear Riversong (12), of New Scotland, NY. His loss will be felt by thousands of friends and fans all over the world who loved his music, books, scientific papers, kind heart, and humble, generous spirit.

His Memorial service will be at the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship sometime in August, and Memorials can be sent to the church at 300 East Oak, Fort Collins, CO 80521. Make checks to "Ft Collins Mennonite Fellowship" with "Michael Riversong" in the memo line. You can also post tributes on his Facebook page, which will include updates about his memorial service and other information.

His books, tapes, and CD's will be available for sale through www.TeslaAcademy.info
970-797-2710.

One of his closest friends stated, "Michael was one of the most talented musicians I've ever worked with, a great scientist, an exceptional teacher, and a kind, generous soul who desperately wanted to do good in the world. He left an amazing body of research, writings, and beautiful, inspirational music, along with Tesla Academy and three wonderful children. We shall do our best to carry on his work and his legacy."