Mike has been playing the banjo for 50 years.  He plays and teaches professionally in southwest Florida.

His experience includes playing banjo, guitar and mandolin for "Porgy and Bess", "Rhapsody in Blue", and "West Side Story" with the Northeast Philharmonic.  He also performed in a variety of Broadway show groups, including several perfomances with Cab Calloway.  In addition Mike played banjo for many years with the All American Orchestra, the Banjo-Aires, and the Bobby Baird Dixieland Band.

Mike studied advanced banjo techniques for several years with Roy Smeck.  Mike's students include Frank Rossi, editor of the Resonator and Hall of Fame inductee and Bob Barta who has had repeat performances at Carnegie Hall, New York.