Mike O.

Mike started out his career as Percussionist, 1st Chair Symphonic band and Drum-line Captain Marching band, Drumset-Jazz Band: Keystone Heights Jr/Sr High School and Drummer/back-up Vocals for The Monks where we performed for High School dances and volunteered for the annual Jacksonville Chapter Special Olympics. From there he moved onto be the Drummer/back-up vocals for Rock Band Livewire-Keystone Heights, Winners of Local Battle of the Bands 1987. Then sat in and jammed at the Renowned Dubbs in Gainesville with the groups Redline and Scorcher (Which would later become the band Sister Hazel) He then went on to attend Musicians Institute(Los Angeles) for Percussion Performance working with Ralph Humphrey (Frank Zappa) and Joe Porcaro( Toto) both of whom he had the privilege to jam with as well as work in local clubs. Also while in LA he was the Studio Session Drummer for Progressive Rock band Yin/Yang and worked with Craig Goldy of Dio, and also live with Gregg Bissonnette of David Lee Roth. Drums/Percussion and Production and various gigs (including playing out with The Zoo/The Groove who's frontman was Arnel Pineda-now Lead Singer of Journey). Was also Drumset/Percussion and vocals with Progressive/Fusion group Rich Lyle/Master of None(Had the honor of jamming with Paul Rodgers of Bad Co. who sat in with the band at a gig at Washington Square on the famous South Beach. Played in Rock cover band Chunx of Notes. Also Sons and Daughters/Heartbeat Orchestra which toured and played from South Florida all the way to LA playing in renowned venues such as The Filmore/Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami, The Shrine Auditorium, The Queen Mary and The Rose Bowl in the LA Metro Area(along with Speech of Arrested Development), Driven rock and worship band and percussion/vocals with Dan Castille. Recently, Mike has been kept busy working in various Drum/Percussion and Teaching gigs such as: Percussion with Classic Rock and R&B band Normaltown, Percussionist specializing in Tympani with First Coast Wind Ensemble. Jacksonville Church of Christ worship band, Afro/Cuban group Hibiscus, Even Steven (including back-up vocals), Volunteering at American Legions/Veterans Centers and various others, just to name a few. Having given private lessons and Clinics all over the country and overseas such as Alma mater Musicians Institute in Los Angeles and Metro Manila in the Philippines, he still enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and looks forward to seeing his students learning and excelling in honing their craft...