Mike has been playing music since he was twelve years old when he got his first guitar. He began to learn chords from chord books and from other musicians. He developed skills in playing, singing, and songwriting throughout high school and college while playing in bands. Mike also learned to play the piano from his high school band instructor and also found that he had a natural ability to play the drums when he was asked to join his grandfather's country band for a family friend's birthda...
Mike has been playing music since he was twelve years old when he got his first guitar. He began to learn chords from chord books and from other musicians. He developed skills in playing, singing, and songwriting throughout high school and college while playing in bands. Mike also learned to play the piano from his high school band instructor and also found that he had a natural ability to play the drums when he was asked to join his grandfather's country band for a family friend's birthday party.
While studying music at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, Mike continued to play in coffee shops and bars on the weekends in an acoustic duet. After two years of weak academic performance, he was advised that it would be better for him to take some time off to figure out what he wanted to do. His voice teacher presented him with a choice between the discipline of opera and the partying lifestyle of rock music as it was not advisable for him to pursue both avenues. He decided to leave college and moved back to Texas. The desire to do something big with his music had been growing for a couple of years and it seemed that he would have to leave the roots he had begun to lay down in the Midwest.
Moving back to East Texas to work in his dad's restaurant, Mike would visit his brother in a nearby college. His brother's goth/punk band was looking for a drummer and Mike stepped in. They played at parties and had a couple of shows at Dallas bars and were building a good fan base, but soon fell apart. Again, the musical dream would pull further away.
After being married for five years and after three near divorces, Mike and his wife decided to bring God into their marriage. They joined a church and God changed Mike's heart and desires. He realized that the talents he had been developing all those years were for a greater purpose. Mike began to learn worship songs that his church played and from Christian radio. Opportunities opened up for Mike to lead worship and in a few short years, Mike had played for small groups, children's ministries, outreaches, as well as other churches in the Dallas area.
Mike's goal is no longer to be a famous rock star. That has been traded for a heart to serve and bless others with what God has given him. He feels that he has too long kept this gift buried instead of using it to sow into others' lives. Mike has a heart for leading others into God's throne room through song and loves encouraging others in their walk wherever they are. He knows where he was when God reached down and picked him up, dusted him off and said, "Okay, you had your chance, now let me show you what I can do."
Mike has been married for eleven years to his beautiful wife, Beth. They have four wonderful children named Trey, Malachi and Hannah and Elisha.
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