Michael is a musical director, lyricist/composer, and music producer with an extremely varied background. He formed a medieval ensemble to perform at the premier of ROBIN AND MARIAN, and a Country-Western band for the South African equivalent of the Kentucky Derby. He’s a former musical director for National Lampoon's live shows and television specials, including CLASS OF '86, for which he also wrote several songs. Other television work includes the soundtrack for PBS BIOGRAPHY, LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS, CNN TRAVEL SERIES, and the Jane Leeves sitcom THROB. During its original New York run, he conducted LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. He has appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway shows as an actor/musician. These include PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES and SONG OF SINGAPORE. During the Toyota Comedy Festival, he was musical director and a contributing writer for FIRESIGN THEATRE. He has performed, produced, or written music and lyrics for numerous corporate clients, such as Bayer, Nike, Verizon, Kraft, CNN, Chase Manhattan, Scholastic, Hallmark, and many others. He continues playing both recording and club dates, and has performed with artists ranging from Jimmy Dean to Richard Gere to Shawn Colvin to MA$E, for whom he arranged and played keyboards on the platinum-selling I’M NO KILLAH. He is a contributing writer to CHILDREN’S MUSIC JOURNAL, NATIONAL LAMPOON, and THE SECOND SPRING (St Augistine’s Press). He was profiled in YOUR OWN WAY IN MUSIC (St. Martin’s Press).