MIKE SANCHEZ

British singer, pianist and guitarist Mike Sanchez is one of the most exciting and charismatic performers of Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n' Roll in the world today. His indelible image as a frenetic front man, pumping powerful boogie-woogie from the piano in a soaking suit, has won him fans from all over the world and attracted a following from many famous rock and blues legends who have lined up to work with him.

The authorised biography 'Mike Sanchez-Big Town Playboy' by Michael Madden with a foreword by Robert Plant and published by Music Mentor Books is available from Mike's store and Amazon. Mike will be busy promoting his book as well as his most recent album releases 'So Many Routes' featuring Grammy award winning country rock guitar legend Albert Lee and his critically acclaimed album 'Almost Grown' featuring Imelda May.

Mike spent four years as a full-time member of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, fronting the band alongside Georgie Fame, Beverly Skeete, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather-Low and Eddie Floyd on their annual world tours. The Rhythm Kings released their album ‘Just for a Thrill’ and a fabulous DVD entitled ‘Let The Good Times Roll’, both featuring Mike’s extensive role as a member of the ex-Rolling Stones bassist’s touring band.

In December 2007 Mike was invited to appear as a guest vocalist with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at one of the most publicised musical events of the year - the Led Zeppelin reunion at London's O2 Arena, a tribute to the memory of the late Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records. Mike performed alongside such soul legends as Solomon Burke, Ben E King, Percy Sledge and Sam Moore.

 

Mike is currently involved in a number of touring line-ups, most notably his 6-piece outfit Mike Sanchez and his Band featuring Tom Bull on guitar, bassist Nick Whitfield (both Tom and Nick hail from Leicester's Drugstore Cowboys), Mike's long term drummer Mark Morgan, Nick Lunt on baritone sax (Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra) and Martin Winning on tenor sax (Van Morrison). This band's performances continuously receive fabulous reviews throughout the blues and rockin' scenes across the UK and Europe.

A 2009 recording project was Mike's second collaboration with top Swedish bluesmen The Beat From Palookaville, creating the hot rockin' album 'Babes & Buicks' out on Mike’s own Doopin Music.
In 2003 Mike released a debut 2-hour DVD titled 'Red Hot …Live!' featuring live shows of his own 4 and 7-piece band and The Mike Sanchez Rhythm & Blues Revue, a Johnny Otis 1950s style show starring doo-wop vocal trio The Extraordinaires and Imelda May who shortly thereafter became a household name.

 

Mike Sanchez was born Jesus Miguel Sanchez in London's East End to Spanish parents Jesus and Manola on the 17th of February 1964. At the age of eleven, his family moved to Worcestershire in the West Midlands where Mike took up the piano, developing a strong love for 1950s' American roots music through his high school years. As a teenager he taught himself guitar and formed The Rockets, a rockabilly trio.
Shortly after, Mike was introduced to former Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown and Steve Gibbons' multi-instrumentalist Andy Silvester by Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, which led to the founding of the Big Town Playboys in 1984, specialising in authentic post-war Rhythm & Blues. Procol Harum pianist Gary Brooker became an early fan and introduced Mike to his friends Eric Clapton and Amen Corner's Andy Fairweather-Low. The latter signed up as guitarist with the Big Town Playboys for two years in the 1990s. Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood is another good friend who regularly involves Mike in his plans wherever possible.

Mike recorded a number of albums including the classic Gene Vincent/Cliff Gallup tribute album 'Crazy Legs' with guitar-great Jeff Beck in 1993. The Big Town Playboys had various stints opening for Eric Clapton at London's Royal Albert Hall and appeared at many European music festivals, backing bluesmen like Lowell Fulson, Don & Dewey, Lonnie Brooks, Joe Hughes, Jimmy Nelson, Carey Bell and the great Little Willie Littlefield. Over the years, Mike has also been involved in movie soundtrack producing and recording, most recently for the movie 'I’ll Be There' (2003) starring Charlotte Church and Craig Ferguson. The well-established magazine Blues in Britain voted Mike 'UK Keyboard Player of the Year' for four consecutive years (2000-2004).

Mike's main aim has always been to make every live show his best yet as he continuously enjoys growing acclaim and admiration for his electrifying stage performances from new and old fans of all age groups across the world. He is now a family man living with his wife Sarah and their son Louie Ray in the Sierra Gredos near Madrid considering the next significant step in his colourful career.

 

 

page last edited Spring 2017 - and I'm sure I missed a bunch of stuff!