Trumpet/Piano

John Michael is an accomplished trumpeter and keyboardist with over 35 years of professional performance experience across every style of music. He has collaborated with Grammy-winning artists including Rolling Stones harmonicist Sugar Blue, Béla Fleck’s Howard Levy, legendary drummer Bernard Purdie, and Switchfoot. A dynamic solo and lead performer, John has worked alongside producers and mentors who shaped the sound of music legends like Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Steely Dan. He is also a former recording artist with Benson Records in Nashville and a long-time ASCAP member since 1998. His skills and passion have enabled him to travel the world, performing with B.B. King’s saxophonist Dr. Herman Green in Memphis and touring globally with Atlantic Records’ band Skillet.

In addition to his performance career, John has been a dedicated music educator, teaching trumpet for 35 years and piano for 22 years. He holds a B.A. in Music Business and Trumpet from Elmhurst University and has studied under jazz greats Bobby Shew and Bill Adam.