Biography

Biography and Album Release

By an old friend,

The son of two classical musicians, Mike was given a clock-radio at age 5, tuned in on the FM dial, and turned on to the mind-blowing sounds of ‘60s and ‘70s rock and roll: Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Beatles, Steppenwolf. He started music lessons on the cello and trombone before discovering guitar at age 11, then woodshedded his way through middle school and high school and played in bands, when he should’ve been doing his homework.

Young adulthood brought two years of professional education and a music certificate in rock, blues, and country at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, followed by a second certificate in composition from the Dick Grove School of Music in Van Nuys. Along the way, Mike became obsessed with learning funk and mastering blues, and left college early to play professionally, quickly developing a full-time career as a solo acoustic entertainer and performer. As front man, singer and guitarist Mike played over 2,000 shows throughout the 90s and early 2000s taking stage alongside heavyweights from the San Francisco Bay Area including drummer extraordinaire Bryant Mills, guitar guru John Wedemeyer, and bass player / groove man Tim Allen.

In the mid 90s Mike began composing and producing original soundtracks for video and multimedia projects with his now Emmy-winning video producer sister Patsy Northcutt, helping to create works that garnered multiple awards, including the Gold Cindy and Bronze Telly. During a two-month sabbatical in Spain in 1997, he immersed himself in Flamenco guitar and the Spanish language, playing in clubs and absorbing influences that echo to this day in the title track 2420. 

2420, the Album

In 2004 after moving to Seattle, Mike embarked on a songwriting frenzy that formed the beginnings of 2420. Huge on textures, variety and rhythms, this familiar yet modern sounding classic-rock album is a complete ride from start to finish. After laying down drums in a 24-track studio with Mills, Mike recorded the rest of the album at home (in Pro Tools) playing most parts himself.* The album was released in 2010, but not distributed. With a second career path opening up in visual design and user experience, Mike put the project on the shelf for nearly a decade. The album version being digitally released in October, 2022 features brand new mixes of the title track and Strawberry Peaches and is the first global release of his music to date. 

Mike is not currently performing or recording but expects to be composing and playing out again in the future.

*Additional performers: Bryant Mills on drums (all tracks), Tim Allen (Bass, Josie’s Gone), Jeff Fielder (slide guitar, Strawberry Peaches), James Whiton (upright bass, Strawberry Peaches and Under the Table), and Jay Kenney (B3 organ, Roll with It, Set You Free, and Melody in Turmoil).

Contact Mike if you’d like to be on his mailing list and hear about future releases.