Born in Sydney, Australia, Mike studied at NSW Conservatorium of Music before coming to Boston to study at Berkelee College of Music, graduating in 1980. Mike has toured the United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong with the Artie Shaw Orchestra under the direction of Dick Johnson. He has performed at the Toulon Jazz Festival in Toulon, France; Kyoto Jazz Festival in Kyoto, Japan; Parnu Jazz Festival in Parnu, Estonia; Kook Jazz Festival in San Diego; and Newport Jazz Festival in Saratoga, N.Y. He has performed the ballet The Great Gatsby with the Washington Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and the Hong Kong Ballet in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He has backed up acts such as Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, Lionel Hampton, and Cab Calloway. Mike has recorded the soundtrack to movies such as Dick Tracy and Prefontaine.
