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Mike
Lyons is a retired police officer from the state of
Rhode Island. His career was cut short
due to a violent incident in 1993. As part of his recovery, Mike started
playing music again, which has now become a passion. He is currently the
bandleader of the Blue Moon Orchestra, as well as vocalist and trumpeter.
Mike also plays guitar, both electric and acoustic, which he uses for
songwriting and solo performances.
During
the summer of 1997, Mike attended Berklee College
of Music in
Boston. It was during that time
that he had the opportunity to meet and eventually study privately with two of
the school’s top instructors and performers; Scott DeOgburn
(lead trumpet) and Jerry Cecco, (jazz trumpet). Both
teachers had a huge impact on Mike’s approach to practice and performance.
For guitar studies, he was fortunate to have the versatile
Rick DiRocco as his mentor.
After
completion of the Berklee program, good fortune
came Mike’s way when Jerry Cecco arranged for
him to become a member of his first big band, Fantasy Big Band.
For the next four years, Mike
developed his skills playing second trumpet.
He
moved on to join the S.O.S. Big Band on trumpet as well as occasional
vocalist. It was during this time that Mike found his voice for Big Band
classics.
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Further,
he had the opportunity to develop with Ed Maddern’s
Strictly Sentimental Swing Band. These 8 years of Big Band experience led
Mike to the decision of forming his own group, the Blue Moon Orchestra.
Listen Here!
That's
Life.mp3
As a songwriter, Mike’s performance
credits include several fundraising efforts; “A Concert For
Hope”, where his song, “Remember
Columbine High” was performed with the
Lincoln
High School chorus. The money raised at the
event was donated to the Columbine Hope Foundation. Following the Columbine
concert, Mike gave a memorable performance
in
Washington
D.C. for the Million Mom March. He
composed a song for the march, “A
Mother’s Love” and was invited to share it with the
thousands in attendance. After the tragic attack on 9/11, Mike again came
forward with a concert to raise money for the Red Cross, who was instrumental
in providing relief aid. He felt blessed to receive the music and words to
the song "My Country Tears For Thee"
in tribute to the victims and
survivors.
Mike
continues to give back to the community by volunteering at his local
elementary school, where he assists with instrument classes and offers a
songwriting workshop to the students. Two very powerful songs have been
created in the workshops, with the help of the students;
Listen Here!
The World's Peace Rests On Me.mp3
and
A
Child Cries.mp3,
a song to bring awareness to
the ever growing problem of hunger.
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