Michael Fox - Band Leader, Drummer, and Composer

Michael was born in Brooklyn, New York and started playing drums at the age of eight. Michael studied with world-class drummers and teachers such as Sonny Igoe and Michael Carvin. Michael also studied at the Manhattan School of Music for a number of years with Jim Price, studying classical mallets and vibes. When playing drums in his junior high school Big Band, Michael was chosen to participate in a high school drum contest at the then-famed Jimmy's Night Club on West 52nd Street in NYC. "As a ninth grader, it was quite an honor to play drums for Buddy Rich who was sponsoring this contest. I was the only junior high school drummer to have been chosen to compete against some very fine high school drummers and the opportunity to play on Mr. Rich's kit was an invaluable experience that has carried me through my career."

In 1973, Michael auditioned and was accepted for the High School of Performing Arts, graduating in 1976. "By the age of eighteen, I was traveling with a show band playing seven nights a week all over the country. I remember at one point we did forty two gigs straight. It was grueling, but it was a great lesson in endurance and consistency. When returning to New York after thirteen months out on the road, I settled for a while, playing club dates with some of New York's finest musicians such as pianists Dave Kakoski and Ted Rosenthal. I also played with guitarist Randy Johnston and bassist Gene Perla who was playing with Elvin Jones. For the next few years I found myself in a variety of musical situations such as classical percussion theater playing Off-Broadway work. For the next few years, I toured and recorded with Bobby Martin in support of her hit record For The Love Of Him which was on the Decca Record Label. All of our gigs were concert venues. This gig afforded me the experience of playing to larger audiences."

"After two years with Bobby Martin, I moved back to New York and became very busy on the Freelance scene. I was fortunate enough to land a gig as the resident house drummer of the then-famed Gregory's Jazz Club on the Upper East Side. The band was led by Gene Roland who was pianist, trumpet and musical arranger for the legendary Stan Kenton Band. The band also included such legendary musicians such as Al Haig who was Charlie Parker's pianist for many years."

From 1983 to 1989 my gigs included such diverse acts as Fats Deacon (Amis Griffin Records).

"After a brief gig with the legendary Etta James at The Bitter End, I decided to settle in New York and continue to Free-lance, playing such venues at Town Hall, Lincoln Center, The Village Gate, The Top of The Gate, etc.

"At present, my most recent credits include playing in a powerhouse blues band for the legendary Floyd Lee who has been spanning the globe for nearly five decades. Mean Blues, which has been issued on the Amogla Label, is doing very well in Europe and Japan. This group contains some of New York's most noted blues musicians whose credits include Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stephen Stills, Albert King to name a few. It's such an honor to be touring with this band, we are currently planning blues festivals all over the country opening up for the biggest blues acts in the business. After the summer festivals with the exception of a brief gig in Russia at the end of July playing at Red Square for three days, we will embark on a European tour."

Michael has also put his own wonderful jazz ensemble together called the "MF2 Project". This band includes his old performing arts high school buddy and friend Michael Favata. The two come together to create their own brand of creative jazz music. The CD also includes original material written by Fox and Favata. This band includes talented musicians such as Gregg Gerson who has worked with Roger Daltry, Billy Idol, Mick Jagger to name a few and Michael Morreale who has played trumpet with Joe Jackson for many years. "This CD has enabled me to play the music and the style of drumming that I truly love. It's also affording me the opportunity to act as band leader and composer. MF2 is quickly being sought after by major record labels which are most interested in our original material which is contained on the MF2 CD."

"After 25 years being on the scene as a working drummer, it has been a wonderful growing experience being able to play in different musical situations and working with artists as diverse as Al Haig who played with Charlie Parker to Steve Stevens who I met at the high school of performing arts."