Guitar, Bass Guitar, Tenor Banjo, Mandolin Banjo, Mandolin, Harp, Keyboards, Tres Cubano, Percussion.
I have been a studio musician since 1981, originally as a guitarist on recordings by Light of the World, Sun Palace, Steve Jerome and Juliet Roberts.
In the 1980's, I was part of a songwriting team led by Elton John's producer, Gus Dudgeon. I also worked as a music producer and session musician re-creating US Pop, Soul, R & B and House hits for UK TV with artists such as Cameo, Shannon, Kurtis Blow, Gwen Guthrie, Jermaine Stewart, Aurra, Millie Scott, Joyce Sims and Farley "Jackmaster" Funk (DJ Farley Keith with singer Darryl Pandy who had the first ‘House music’ hit in the UK, "Love can't turn around").
Throughout the 1990's, I was in demand as a MIDI programmer and session musician. Notable sessions included playing guitar, piano and bass guitar on a No.1 hit single for the Chimes, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Street Remix)", and taking care of MIDI programming on the orchestral sessions for "Play Dead" which became a No.1 hit single for Bjork/David Arnold.
I play mainly pick-style acoustic and electric guitars, including 'bottleneck' styles, folk styles, pop, blues, soul and jazz. I occasionally play bass guitar and I also play various keyboards including piano, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos, Clavinet, Hammond Organ and synthesizers. Since the year 2000, I have taken up Hand Percussion, Piano Accordion, Tenor Banjo, Mandolin Banjo, Mandolin, the Cuban Tres and the Pedal Harp.
I started recording in top London recording studios such as Abbey Road, Mayfair
and Utopia, back in 1981. Since then I have recording
credits on everything from commercial
singles and albums to advertising jingles and music tours.
Read
my Recording Credits
Working with several of the world's leading composers has given me invaluable
experience of putting music to picture. More recently, I have been asked to write
music for TV and film myself.
Read my
Film & TV Credits
If you would like Mike Collins to work on your next project, please call to check availability.