Mike was born in Hull, QC on 29 September 1950. He comes from a family of 4 siblings, of which 3 are still living: Louise, Sylvia and Pierre. He has one son, Adam, and 3 grand children: Tyler, Coady and Sky. Adam has followed in his father’s foot steps and has been playing music in the Ottawa valley for over 20 years, and Mike’s grandson Tyler occasionally enjoys playing bass. Mike has been married to his wife Kathy since August 1985.
Playing music since he was just a teen, he is a keen bass player, lead vocalist and harmony singer and is currently a member of the band Unwound. In almost 50 years of playing music in the Ottawa Valley, Mike has worked with such valley entertainers as John Henry and the Steel Driving Band, Ron McMunn and McMunn Music, the late Gary "Spike" Spicer, the McCann Family, Rae Palmer, Gary Fairburn, the Gal Pals, Dan Paul Rogers, Don Cochrane and Neville Wells, just to name a few.
In the early 80’s he toured out west with the Ginette Porter Show. This band was one of the first bands in the Ottawa area to back up Charlie Major after he won the CKBY Talent Contest. Mike has also played in two family bands: his wife’s family band and his late father-in-law’s band. He was a member of the Chris McCann and Straight Goods band in the early 90’s. He has performed with recording artists "Whispering" Bill Anderson, and Bobby Curtola and participated in a Nashville Show with Ron McMunn, who brought in two of Nashville’s own: Josh Graves Jr. and fiddler Kenny Baker.
Mike has participated in numerous fund raising events, jamborees and local fairs throughout his music career. He has done session work not only for his bass playing but also for his harmony singing. Mike is not just limited to bass playing, though this is his first love. He started on drums, was on steel and rhythm guitar in a family band, tinkers on the keyboard and has attempted fiddle.
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