Erlewine, Michael

Erlewine, Michael

Astrologer Michael Erlewine founded Matrix Software, the most active center for astrological programming and research in North America, in 1977. The center includes the prestigious Heart Center Library, the largest nonprofit astrological library that is open to the public on a year-round basis.

Erlewine is active in a variety of areas, including astrology, Feng-shui, Tibetan Buddhism, music and film reviews, and producing digital videos.

Erlewine has been a practicing astrologer for over 40 years, with an international reputation in the field. Aside from nine years of counseling experience and years of teaching, he has made many original contributions to astrology including Local Space (astro-locality technique), Interface Nodes, deep-space astrology, and pioneering contributions in heliocentric astrology. Erlewine was the first astrologer to offer astrological computer programs to the general public (1977). His astrological books include The Sun Is Shining, Astrophysical Directions, Manual of Computer Programming for Astrologers, and Interface Nodes. He also served as the editor of the Astro*Talk Bulletin, Matrix Journal (a technical research journal for astrologers), and the ongoing Astro Index Encyclopedia project. He has won a number of awards from the astrological community including: Professional Astrologers, Inc. (PAI), the American Federation of Astrologers, and the UAC Regulus Award.

Erlewine is also very active in Tibetan Buddhism (serving on a number of boards) and directing the Heart Center Karma Thegsum Choling, a main center in North America for the translation, transcription, and publication of texts and teachings of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

A former musician (he led a band in the 1960s called the Prime Movers, with Iggy Pop as its drummer), Erlewine founded and created All Media Guide (publishers of, among others, All Music Guide and All Movie Guide)—perhaps the largest database of music and film ratings and reviews on the planet. AMG has more than 14 books and many CD-ROMs published. Erlewine has worked for a wide variety of online networks and other electronic formats (such as CompuServe, E-World, AOL, and MSN).

Erlewine is currently the executive vice president for strategic planning for Alliance Entertainment Corp., of which AMG is a part. Erlewine, his wife, and his four children live in Big Rapids, Michigan.

—Michael Erlewine