Introduction:
Mike knew from a very early age that he wanted a starring role in the entertainment business, and decided to start learning the organ at the age of six. From the beginning, this immersed him in all the great old standards, and this was to mould him and his love for the Big Band Swing Era of the 40s and 50s, and his greatest influence - Frank Sinatra.
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About Mike...
Mike knew from a very early age that he wanted a starring role in the entertainment business, and decided to start learning the organ at the age of six. From the beginning, this immersed him in all the great old standards, and this was to mould him and his love for the Big Band Swing Era of the 40s and 50s, and his greatest influence - Frank Sinatra. Shortly after his ninth Birthday, Mike took up the Trumpet and Piano achieving Grade 8 and Advanced Certificate by the time he was fifteen, and also developed his Baritone-Tenor voice, singing for choirs, concerts and musical shows. Mike's academic achievements include a BSc Combined Honours Degree in Music & Mathematics from Leeds University, four 'A' Levels and ten GCSEs. At University, he further developed his musical ear and acute aural perception skills, improved his playing and singing, and learned Arranging and Orchestrating skills for Big Bands and Orchestras.
Shortly after graduating, Mike naturally progressed into a career as a Singer, performing in Musical Theatre Shows, and singing Pop, jazz/Swing with Big Bands and small groups. And, as a Piano Entertainer playing Cocktail Piano and Singing in top five-star hotels (including The Hilton), restaurants, clubs, wedding receptions and other functions & events. He plays a wide range of material for a mixed audience, including songs from West End & Broadway Musical Theatre, Standards & Swing from the 40s, a selection of Popular music through the decades from Rock 'n' Roll, and Motown & Soul, to the latest Ballads, some light Classical music, and themes from Film and Television. He is able to play most songs that audiences request, playing by ear, and using sheet music, he has a large library of music books which guests may browse through and select songs from, and a concise Repertoire of Songs booklet listing all the songs he plays. Mike has relative and perfect pitch, and has an excellent sight-reading facility, enabling him to play and sing previously unseen and unfamiliar songs.
Early in 1997 Mike embarked on his first cruise, and one that would take him around the globe on the first of his world cruises. Since then, Mike has worked for Royal Caribbean International and completed another world cruise with Cunard's QE2, but most recently performed with Silversea Cruises - the World's premier, award winning six-star UltraLuxury Cruise Ships. On the Silver Cloud and Silver Wind he has performed his own Cabaret Act - a show consisting of Sinatra and other swing numbers, Musical Theatre selections, piano, impressions of all the greats and popular artists, and his own original songs & material. Mike is very versatile as a Vocalist, singing in all styles, and retaining the feel and style of a song. As Cocktail Pianist, Piano & Keyboard player in Show Bands & Orchestras, Piano Accompanist, backing many guest celebrity acts, or as Musical Director, Mike flourishes with expertise leadership and great musicianship. With a view to becoming Cruise Director, he has also hosted and compéred many shows and events on board.
At the moment Mike is beginning to get established with many of the top Big Bands across England, and has sang with established, notable, award,winning Big Bands such as the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and the National Youth jazz Orchestra. Mike has a Frank Sinatra show, and a Variety show, which demonstrates Mike's talents singing impressions of all the old crooners and pop artists, playing Piano, and performing original songs he's written. He has his own arrangements for bands (trios to twenty-piece Big Bands), including a library of over two hundred Sinatra & other Charts, and is also totally self-contained with backing tracks on Mini Disc (produced himself using a Roland XP80 sequencer-workstation keyboard, authentically recreating the Big Band sound). He performs these shows when in England for corporate functions, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other events. Mike's other skills include arranging, copying & transcribing charts for singers and bands (trio to twenty-piece) which he does professionally.
In his spare time Mike enjoys keeping fit and playing most sports including Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Golf, Snooker and Skiing. He performs in Musical Theatre Productions, taking principal parts acting and singing with a National Musical & Dramatic Company, and sings Tenor for a Choir. He also takes part in Community Radio projects, presenting shows, providing Voice,Overs and musical jingles, and has won several competitions in the art of Public Speaking. Mike also enjoys travelling, reading, sketching, cooking, astronomy, and science and nature.
Mike is very ambitious. He has plans for a new West End Musical he's writing, hopes to secure a Recording contract to perform his own songs, and is hoping to appear on Stars In Their Eyes as Harry Connick Jr. Furthermore, he'd like to make a big impression, furthering his career as an actor, and plans to tour the country with his own Big Band.