Michael taught himself to play guitar when he was 14. At Beverly Hills High, he formed his first band, The Sloths. At age 16, he began playing clubs on the Sunset Strip like Pandora’s Box, The Sea Witch, and Stratford On Sunset. Around that time, he recorded his first single with The Sloths, “Makin’ Love.”
Michael joined the Yellow Payges at age 17. Later they became the house band at The Hullabaloo. [Note: When Scott Phares was 15, he also played The Hullabaloo when Michael and The Yellow Payges were also on the bill!]
In 1969, Michael joined Salt and Pepper with Rick James. After that, he joined forces with Mark Anthony in several bands. In 1974, he graduated from Cal State, Los Angeles with a degree in music. His performance instrument was the cello.
In 1976, he and Mark Anthony reformed The Hollywood Stars with Terry Rae, Ruben de Fuentes, and Bobby Drier. That version of the group recorded “Sound City” and “The Hollywood Stars” (Arista).
After The Hollywood Stars split up, in 1978, Michael started his own business: Fortress Studios, a rehearsal facility. He operated that studio until 2001.
Michael joined the Kingbees and played with them from 1980-1982.
