Learn more about Michael Mennell
Michael Mennell has been a musician most of his life. He started playing violin at age four, and drums at 14. At 16, his brother's band needed a bass player; he gave it a try, and found his musical home.
Mike graduated from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, in 1989, with a Bachelor's of Music in Studio Performance and Jazz, on electric bass. After living and working in Miami with artists including Jimmy Buffett, Mick Taylor, Bobby Keys and Ivan Neville, he moved to southern California in 2000.
Since moving to the Los Angeles-area, Mike joined the faculty at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, CA, where he has taught since 2002, in their bass and Bachelor's programs. From 2006-2008, Mike was the bassist for Sir Tom Jones, and appeared with him in the U.K., Europe and in North and South America. In 2009, he played with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, on television (Ellen, Regis) and live theater and club dates.
Mike maintains a busy recording schedule, with commercials, television, (The Vineyard), and most recently, a duets album with Australian superstar singer Jimmy Barnes, featuring Keith Urban, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain of Journey, and guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa, with producer legend Kevin Shirley.
Mike lives in Santa Clarita, CA with his wife and 12-year-old daughter, and gigs around the Southland, with pub band the Lovelies, and old-school R&B/Soul band the Deep Cuts. He has, and will continue to tour world wide.