First a little family history
...Kevin Michaels grew up in a family of Musicians and entertainers that have performed for generations. Kevins grandparents sang on the radio in Barbershop quartets and quintets and toured all over the world including Asia in the 1940's and 50's and were in the Presidents Choir in 1969.

Kevin's uncle Michael Kollander played guitar for Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Roger Kellaway, Tom Scott, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Paul Potash and Charo. Michael wrote many songs. One song he wrote was called "Skinny Man" which was talking about Kevins father, which received considerable airplay. Michael also arranged songs and played and recorded in every venue that was available at the time. He did extensive tours, and worked in Las Vegas in the 60's and 70's.

Kevin's other uncle John Foss, a long time Trumpet player who graduated from New England Conservatory of Music in the late fifties, went on to playing with many greats such as Tommy Dorsey, Wayne Newton, the Beach Boys, Andy Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert Goulet, Roger Kellaway, Chicago, Maynard Ferguson, Frank Sinatra along with a whole slew of entertainers that went through the mid 60's to late 70's Vegas show circuit.

Kevin's aunt Cielle Kollander was a part of a backup singing unit for Andy Williams, Roger Kellaway, and was on many Fifth Dimension, Les Baxter, Yma Sumac, etc.

Kevin's mother Diane sang with his aunt Cielle for Andy Williams and Roger Kellaway and worked with many other Artists such as, Emil Richards, Chuck Domanico, Tom Scott, and many other greats artists whom Kevin met early in his childhood.

Kevin's father worked with many artists such as Elton John, Leon Russel, Barbara Keith, Roger Kellaway, Chicago, The Beach Boys, Tommy Bolin, Tom Scott, Linda Rondstat, Dolly Parton, Mike Lang, Andy Williams, Billy Joel, Crosby Still Nash and Young, Charles Lloyd, The Beach Boys Charles Lloyd,Earle Mankey, Alan Jardine, Billy Hinsche, Ed Carter, Dennis Wilson, Ricky Fataar, Ron Altbach, Sidney Sharp, Marilyn Wilson, Henry Roth, Jack Nimitz, Jay Migliori, William Kurasch, Mike Kowalski, Jules Jacobs, Henry Ferber, and Kiki Dee. Kevins father went on extensive road trips throughout the world with many of them. Kevin's father built many studios in Southern California, mainly Brother Studio, Sound City, Village Recorders, Gold Star, Location Recorders, etc.                                                                                               

Kevin since July of 2003, studied under Alphonse Mouzon, who started the group Weather Report.  Mouzon served as a session drummer on recordings by Tim Hardin (Bird on a Wire), Gil Evans (Gil Evans), Weather Report (Weather Report), Norman Connors (Dance of Magic), John Klemmer (Magic and Movement), and Teruo Nakamura (Unicorn). Mouzon released solo albums: The Essence of Mystery, Funky Snakefoot, Mind Transplant. Trilogue Live was a collaborative group effort between Albert Mangelsdorff, Jaco Pastorius and Alphonse Mouzon.  Mouzon was a full-time member of Larry Coryell's Eleventh House (1974 - 1975) and Back Together Again. Mouzon hasn't limited to just fusion however, as he's proven his versatility by either recording with or performing alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Patrick Moraz, Tommy Bolin, and Chubby Checker. Additionally, Mouzon has been acting, including a part alongside Tom Hanks, in the film, That Thing You Do!. 

Kevin is currently studying Big Band music with Danny Pucillo, who has played along side John Foss in Robert Goulet's band in the 70's.

Kevin is understudy to: Buddy Childers, Pat Longo and Steve Spiegl Big-Bands; also studied under Ralph Razze, a versatile big-band drummer, who has worked with all of the greats!

In 1970 Steve Spiegl became the chief arranger for the Stan Kenton Orchestra, arranging one of the biggest hits, "Hey Jude" (from the Beatles), recorded on the "Live at Redlands University" album. In 1973, he won the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's International Broadcasting Award for writing the music for the "World's Best Broadcast Ad of the Year". Steve was Director of Jazz Studies and Brass at Pepperdine University, Malibu, and published over 50 original compositions for school jazz bands with Maggio Music Press. In 1985 the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corp used Steve's composition "Bacchanalia" as their opener for their winning performance at the Drum Corp International. Over 10,000 schools throughout the U.S. and Canada currently use Steve's compositions in their music programs. For 34 years, Steve has rehearsed weekly with his own band, the Steve Spiegl Big Band, which features some of the biggest names in the Hollywood studio industry. They have just released their fourth album "Enigma", on the Sorcerer Records label. Prior albums have been "Hot!" (1979), "Perspectives" (1981), and "Then and Now" (1993).

Kevin at present, is studying under the most influential players, writers, and arrangers in the history of Big band jazz music ! This has helped Kevin's playing tremedously in icreasing his interpretation, from subtle to ultimate ferociousness. There is also an element of sweetness and charm to his playing; equal in small combo bands to the ultimate of all bands, and that being Big Band music playing!! Isn't it great to see a fifth generation musicians coming into his own!

Watch out for this boy Kevin it looks like he's on the path towards real musical greatness!

As a solo artist, producer and writer Kevin is obsessed with expanding the boundaries of percussion and drums in all types of musical settings (genres). He attempts to incorporate heavy elements of jazz, rock, fusion, country, latin and classical including worldbeat and pure energetic and sweet african rhythms into his music; writing lyrics that are literate and self-consciously meaningful, and he has never been afraid to emphasize this fact in the press and to many of the Artists and Bands he has been involved in. He is a true leader in incorporating many diverse rhythms into all types of tunes such as rock, old and contemporary blues to jazz, while not being showy but adding a scintillating and energetic flavor and feel to his playing, much like Jeff Porcaro and other great drummers did before him.

If you are interested in local or world-wide events, please sign in. Your name, address, telephone number will never be sold, given away without your permission, ever !

Contact Kevin !

Please contact Kevin for any information that you may need for musical services or band for any public appearances or performace requests to promote musical interests in the local community or world at large.