About Mike Matalone

Bass Guitar

Mike's appreciation for music started early on while in elementary school and the high school band would come out to perform for the kids.  "I really enjoyed the jazz band. They played the music that I recognized the most."

Soon after, Mike started his own musical adventure with the local music school band called "The Mar-Cole Music Makers." The group was set up to showcase the group-lesson program.

It included three guitarists, four accordions and a drummer.  "We had a great run playing three songs we learned for the few music-school recitals and community functions we performed in. We won a blue ribbon in the Geneva Illinois Music festival for the combo division. I still have that blue ribbon!"

Mike continued through his high school and college years in various bands performing at parties, festivals and small clubs around the Chicagoland area. One of the bands  included a 14 year-old Elvis impressionist. Another group called Tag’em & Bag’em had an intense hard-rock set list and a full-blown pyrotechnics display.  "I am proud to say that we broke a few records at clubs for attendance in those days." 

Eventually, a happy marriage, two kids, a mortgage, two tattoos, blown eardrums and middle-age all took its toll on Mike.  The gear was sold and the music dreams faded...but not for long...

"I had known Brian Tedeschi and his talented family for quite some time. I followed some of Brian and Sue’s early band projects and had been a fan from the very beginning."  While Brian was putting his latest band Suburban Folk together, Mike would hang out to listen-in on rehearsals. Finally, Brian and the rest of the band were able to coax Mike into buying a bass guitar and join the group as their low-end guy.

"I have to say, this is a band worth waiting for. It’s really the band that I’ve always wanted to be a part of...and I can truly say that it feels like a great fit. This is where I should have been from the beginning...enjoying time with great, talented friends and also with the music I have always wanted to play."

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