Mike was born and raised in Tampa, is a fourth generation Floridian, and still lives within walking distance of Tampa. In spite of this appearance of homebodiness, he is a world traveler and performer and gets giggles, chuckles, and guffaws in that golden quadrangle of culture (Tampa, FL to Norwalk, CN to Sioux Falls, SD to Galveston TX) every time he performs. Sometimes they even laugh at the lyrics.
Mike grew up in a home filled with music; of course, that music
was Spike Jones, Ray Stevens, Alan Sherman, Smother's Brothers, Hee Haw, and
Roger Miller. Dad was a swing band drummer. Grandpa played C Melody sax,
dulcimer, keyboards, and built a few various stringed instruments too.
Mike was the middle child of 3 brothers. Since he wasn't the eldest
(favorite) or youngest (baby) he became a musician. He started on clarinet at
age 11 and soon added guitar. He excelled on clarinet and played with many
people (usually about 70 at a time), often while walking around on a football
field in precision patterns wearing a funny looking costume while carrying his
instrument. This was great preparation for his next career, which started with
him walking around in a big field in precision formations with about 70 guys in
funny costumes carrying antique inoperable guns weapons in Navy boot
camp. The next four years were spent in Hawaii and points west and were
punctuated by moments of sobriety and 5 incredible concerts; New Year's Day
inside of Diamondhead Crater, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, and John Prine -- the
real beginning of the obsession.
He tried to kick the funny song habit after obtaining his freedom
from the federal government by concentrating on learning to play bluegrass
music. It was working too, until that fateful night in late 1979 when John Prine
came on the radio. It was all downhill uphill focused effort from
there, except for that 5 year stint in the SPEBSQSA dancing around with 70 guys
in funny looking costumes singing the high parts. Now Mike plays at
venues of all kinds; festivals, house concerts, parties, listening rooms,
campfire circles, Hell, and crowded, smoky, noisy, bars with lots of people who
think they know the words to all of his songs (listed in order of preference)