My Story
Do you know what the biggest challenge is when writing a song?
Hi, I’m Mike
I Teach Midlife Adults How To Write Songs From The Heart For The Ones They Love. But first Let’s Go Back A Few Years…
My journey with music started as a young boy listening to 45’s (ya know, those little vinyl frisbees) in my Grandma’s basement. The warm, soft sounds of the Beach boys started a lifelong affection that grows more every day. Those were the first moments when music really touched me to the core.
In my teens it was all about fun, partying, girls, and loud music. I remember that warm spring day in my teen years when a wild looking wild eyed long haired dude went flying by me on the highway while I was blasting Led Zeppelin thru my 6×9 Jensen speakers in my 71 Camaro. All I can remember was him screaming “Yea Man !!!!” in no doubt approval of my “it’s a great day to rock out and be wild” attitude.
That was another moment that really hit home for me on how music can move the heart and soul.
Surprisingly, I didn’t get my first guitar until I was 19 and in the Navy.
That guitar went with me on my first 6 month deployment at sea. I endlessly practiced the beginning of GnR’s My Michelle, no doubt driving my bunk mates insane. After the Navy life happened. Marriage, job, partying, bills, life, and more bills. I was in my early twenties and my beautiful bride and I were still pretty wild.
It was a few years later that I would meet my uncle Brian, who is also a musician. He suggested I take guitar lessons from one of his childhood friends, the late great Charlie O’Neill.
It was through Charlie that I learned how to open my heart so the music could flow out naturally and I could create as my true, authentic self.
It Was Also From Charlie That I Learned The Importance Of Community And True Musicianship.
After several years of working a job I was really beginning to loathe, I pulled the trigger on making music my full-time career. As someone who has written songs their whole life and loves the multi-layers of creating music, I pursued a career in songwriting, publishing, producing and music licensing. I figured one of those had to click for me, it just made sense.
Later in life I would find out that success has nothing to do with common sense but everything to do with vision, ambition, and emotion.
After a year and a half of spinning my proverbial 8 track wheels, I picked up another job out of financial necessity.
That was a very low point in my life.
I felt like a failure and that there was no way I could fulfill my dreams of having a profitable career in music.
I also felt like I let my family down.
It was not long after that that I took a huge leap of faith and recommitted to a journey of personal growth.
Little did I know that my journey of personal growth never stopped, I just had to get out of the mud and back on the highroad.
As I was challenged more and more and continued to grow I was finding proof in my life of my true power.
I also learned that the people that love you the most will challenge you the most, for those of the people that really care about you and want to see you grow.
A Few Random Facts About Me...
- I love all kinds of music. If it moves your soul and stirs emotion it’s a good song, it doesn't matter what the lyrics are or what the music sounds like.
- Favorite concert is Guns n Roses, Metallica and Faith No More July 25, 1992 Rich Stadium in Orchard Park. Just WOW !!!
- I play acoustic and electric guitar, have a piano but it’s more for tinkering around on.
- I’ve been married to my beautiful bride for 30+ years and still madly in Love with her.
- I am a huge cat and animal lover. We have six fur babies at this moment, that number could always go up at any moment!!!
- I love being outside, trail running or bike riding are my favorites. The water front of Buffalo is an amazing place in the summer.
- I dig 60s muscle cars, 1968 Super Bee is my favorite. Had a 68 Chevelle when I was in the Navy.
- I’m usually reading about three or four books at the same time, personal development and Jimmy Buffett books are my favorites.
- Huge fan of pizza and wings, we have hands-down the best in the country in Western New York.
- I love action/adventure movies. Marvel, D.C. and Godzilla movies are some of my favorites.
- I am a total suburbanite !!! Of course the movie The Burbs is one of my favorites.
- I volunteer at our local kitty rescue center and am learning yet another lesson of the power of true, unconditional love.
- After 54 years on this beautiful Earth, I was baptized in the church where Sandy and I exchanged our wedding vows.
- I got my first tattoo at the tender young age of 54!!
- Traveled all over the world when I was in the Navy, Spain is my favorite country.