My Dad, Tower of power, Chester Thompson, Jimmy Smith, Toto, Jon Lord, Gregg Rollie, Craig Frost, Grand Funk Railroad, Earth Wind and Fire, Santana, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Allman Brothers, Lucky Peterson, James Brown, George Clinton.
Sounds Like
It has been said that if you take the funky tastefulness of Chester Thompson (Tower of Power), the screaming b3 tone of Gregg Rollie (Santana), and insane out of the box chops of Keith Emerson (ELP), and Jon Lord (Deep Purple), and place them in a blender with a shot of tequila........you would have something pretty close to mikes playing style.
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Mike began his musical career at the age of 12 when he was interested in playing the drums. By the age of 14 he was introduced to the local music scene of his hometown, Toledo, Oh. where he played drums for several local acts. Little did he know that his drumming career would come to a screeching halt when he was attending and drum clinic performed by Steve Smith of Journey. "While I was at the clinic, I saw this guy sitting behind a monstrous brown thing on the side of the stage", said Mike. "Dad, what is that thing?" he asked his father. "That is a Hammond B-3 organ, and a leslie speaker." replied Bruce. It was then made quite clear that the hammond was his musical calling.
Not wasting any time, he began to teach himself how to play the piano, and became the piano player for the highschool jazz band. Playing keyboards in the hottest local acts led to bigger gigs opening up for national acts such as, Grand Funk Railroad, Travis Tritt, Bad Company, David Allen Coe, Bo Bice, Head East, Pat Travers, Foghat, Marshall Tucker Band, Vanessa Carlton, Confederate Railroad, Billy Currington, Cheap Trick, Great White, and many more. After placing number one in a regional blues competition, Mike received a phone call from drummer David Lee, of Swampdawamp, an up and coming national act out of North Carolina. He was asked to come and accept a full time keyboardist position. After an hour of rehearsing the songs in his garage, he packed his bags and left home. When hes not on tour, He resides in Charlotte, NC.
Mike proudly endorses the following products and services: Yamaha Keyboards, The Hammond Organ Company, Leslie Speakers, Ultimate Ears (in ear monitors), and The Mental Case Company.
hahaha. You're gonna have to help him get the m3! You got the experience with the b3, so mine should be a cake walk! lol. All he has to take is a bass!
Ah, good fun. lol. What can I say? Got my dads mouth.
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