Mike was born in Bury, Lancs, and at 11 years of age attended the Junior Royal College of Music in Manchester; after this he gained a scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music in the same city. At 18 he gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music in London, his teachers included Trevor Green (Scottish Opera), Henry Hall (Halle Orchestra) and Bernard Brown (BBC Symphony Orchestra).
While at the Guildhall he led the Brass Ensemble conducted by Denis Wick, and also played 1st trumpet in The Symphony Orchestra. During his second year he was chosen as one of 6 musicians to play in the Juenesses Musicals World Orchestra at the 1976 Olympic Games in Canada, touring with them for a month afterwards. The same year he also toured Italy with a 20-piece Brass Ensemble with whom he also travelled to Korea and Japan the following year.
After College his first work was freelancing with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Further freelance work led eventually to Mike joining the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in 1978. The Pasadenas toured extensively throughout Europe and the UK, with recording, radio and TV work added, it was a busy life. He also did the occasional date with the LSO and session work. Mike was a full-time member of the PRO for 12 years, and since 1990 has been freelancing, basing himself in London, working, in the main, in the jazz field, specialising in the styles of the music from the 1920’s-1950’s.
Bands and Orchestras he has been involved with, besides the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, have been Keith Nichols (Cotton Club Orchestra and Band), The Grahamaphones, Red Hot and Blue Orchestra, Echoes of Ellington, Harry Strutter’s Hot Rhythm, Charleston Chasers, Bob Hunt Ellington Orchestra, Midnite Follies,Blue Devils, Blue Harlem, Ray Gelato, Pete Long Big Band, and many other groups. Recently he accompanied Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music on his tours of Europe. He has also played with smaller jazz groups such as Acker Bilk: Guiness Jazz Band (23 years) with whom he has played 20 Cork Festivals, and toured extensively in the UK and Europe. His work with all these bands and groups has included radio, TV, film soundtracks and albums, and he is active as a session musician for CBS, EMI at Abbey Road, CTS and others.
Mike’s recorded output includes Brass Band albums in the 1960’s, Orchestral in the 70’s; and from 1978 albums (both LP’s and CD’s) with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Keith Nichols Cotton Club Orchestra, & Blue Devils; Guiness Jazz Band CD’s, The Bob Hunt Orchestra, and recently Chris Barber. On 27 November, 2001 at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, Mike was one of three musicians joining the renamed Big Chris Barber Band as a full-time member. Now Touring the continent and UK with Chris, he still finds time to guest with other bands
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