Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Mike Chavers Bio



Mike Jammin Posted by HelloMike was born in Niagara Falls New York. He came from a musical family. His father was a bass player in a rockabilly band performing in various bands until he retired in his 70’s. Michael was introduced to the blues at the age of 6 by a coworker of his fathers Bill Woods. Bill was a black piano player who gave him piano lessons and would take Michael to recitals in the black churches in Buffalo N Y.
Michael started performing professionally at the age of 13 subbing for his father. By the time he graduated form high school he was a full time musician working in several different bands in Buffalo.
Michael was on the road in 1973 when the band broke up in Columbus Ohio. That’s where Michael met 2 of his most important teachers at Capital University. Cornell Wiley and Dave Wheeler. Cornell was a fantastic bassist and singer and Dave was a great musician and arranger.
Michael started to tour with many semi pro bands in the 70’s and moved to New York City in 1976 and started a jazz band. Then he met Jimmy Norman who was the man who wrote the Stones first hit Time Is On My Side and started a group called Soul’d. Jimmy Norman was also a member of the Coasters, Poison Ivy, and Charlie Brown etc. When the Coasters couldn’t keep a reliable back up band Jimmy suggested Michael’s rhythm section and they worked together until 1986 when Michael Moved to Florida.
Michael started playing the local Florida venues with a group called Tobacco Road and met Joey Dee in 1996 and started working with Joey for until 1998 when local blues man Sarasota Slim asked him to join his band. Michael worked with Slim until 2002 and decided to form his own band again.
Michael’s in the pocket bass style and strong vocals are showcased in his show along with the talents of other local blues men. like Josh Nelms “one of the best young Guitarists out there” and Tim Heading of James Brown and The Greg Allman Band. You will also see Glen Evans Tom Bell, Jerry Chase O B and other local guys of renown.
Michael likes to call his style Beach, Blues & Boogie. You’re going to hear a lot of blues and a lot of other Styles including some Rock & Roll and some R&B too.