Guitar Mikey and the Real Thing are definite proof that blues is fresh and alive.   With the funk of James Brown and the intensity of Buddy Guy combined with the heaviness of Led Zeppelin the band has earned the opportunity to share the bill with such artists as The Thunderbirds, John Mayall, Johnny and Edgar Winter and even hard rock bands the likes of Nazareth.  

At eleven years old, Guitar Mikey had already established his destined path when sneaking back stage to meet slide guitar mentor, Muddy Waters.   At the age of twelve he began playing in local rock bands and at sixteen, began fronting the critically acclaimed - award winning Steel City Blues Band.   Later, this band would feature, and then back Canada’s King Biscuit Boy.   Over the years Mikey has been seen hanging around Toronto to Buffalo, Chicago, to Boston, sharing the stage with the likes of Honeyboy Edwards, Yank Rachel, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Billy Branch, Carl Withersby and the late Paul Butterfield.   Many Hamilton fans remember the years of Mikey's regular Sunday night where he helped build the popularity of Hess Village's club, The Gown & Gavel.  Here Guitar Mikey would regularly have musicians sit in like Carey Bell, Phil Guy, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Shaw, Luther Tucker, Don Walsh to name a few.   Most recently he has reached his final destination, Clarksdale Mississippi.   This is where he will continue playing the music he loves, in the place it was born.

"Mikey himself, is an awesomely deft guitarist.   He can go from knock-down-the-walls power to gentle tenderness in a beat.   He adroitly reaches to the roots of his music to the point where blues is infused into almost all forms of pop".  ~ Gary Curtis ~ The Spectator

"One of the best slide guitar players I've heard".   ~ Paul Butterfield

"He could have it all before he's twenty-five".   ~ Ronnie Hawkins

"Hard to keep up with that boy".   ~ Luther Tucker

"Even at sixteen he could play like a fifty year old blues man".   ~ Ian Thomas