Mike Sanchez - Bushy's Big Wheel Blues Festival

Mike Sanchez

Mike Sanchez UK singer, guitarist and pianist is one of the most exciting and charismatic performers of Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n' Roll in the world.

Born in London to Spanish parents in 1964, Mike took up piano at the age of ten, developing a strong love for 50's American roots music at high school. As a teenager he taught himself guitar and formed the Rockets, a rockabilly trio.

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.

Mike's indelible image as a frenetic frontman, pumping powerful boogie-woogie from the piano in a soaking red 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.

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 nineties. Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood is another good friend who regularly involves Mike in his plans wherever possible.

Mike recorded a number of successful records with the Big Town Playboys, including the classic rockabilly album Crazy Legs with guitar great Jeff Beck in 1993. Mike's guested on several other significant recordings, including the first two albums by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, and cut two solo albums where he played most of the instruments himself.

Mike's forte will always remain his live audiences. He's had various stints opening for Eric Clapton at London 's Royal Albert Hall and appeared at many European festivals, backing bluesmen like Lowell Fulson, Don & Dewey, Joe Hughes, Jimmy Nelson, Carey Bell and Little Willie Littlefield. In addition, Mike is currently planning the Mike Sanchez Rhythm and Blues Revue, a Johnny Otis 50's style show with a variety of rockin' artists taking part.

"... Mike Sanchez completely blew the afternoon crowd away with probably the wildest set of the festival. After some dynamite boogie woogie, including the highly appropriate “I'm Mad”, it was time for him to pick up his guitar and astound us all with several numbers only he could get away with. Jim Reeves? The Ink Spots ? He is a born showman and appears to work without a set list, which is a sure sign of a natural entertainer. We've rarely seen such a huge post gig queue to purchase CD's."

http://www.mikesanchez.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/mikesanchezandhisband