MIKE AVERY

Vocalist

Mike hails from the west side of Chicago, and he was always surrounded by music. Influenced by his mother and brother, both singers, and his father, a saxophone player, Mike made his musical debut in the blues sector at the young age of 13. When he saw how he captivated audiences, he knew he wanted to pursue singing. Magic Sam showed him versatility, singing rhythm and blues and soul, along with the blues, and his high school choir teacher nurtured and pushed him to keep performing. Mike exudes west side soul with a mixture of funk and blues, and you can hear the Chicago and old-school sound in every single note he sings. His smooth style is reminiscent of some of the greatest artists of the past- but make no mistake- he is no replica. His vocal prowess stands alone. Some of his musical influences are Magic Sam, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Eugene Record from the Chi-lites. Mike has worked on several projects throughout the Chicago area, such as West Side Soul, Wrecking Crew, New Image, The Creative Emeralds, and The Dramatics, and performed with Mavis Staples on a European tour. When Mike is not out on tour, he enjoys writing music and listening to his favorite tunes.