Mike Ricciardi

Drums

Mike hails from upstate New York. After a frustrating and sometimes painful experience playing trombone in the fifth grade and being told he was too small for the local fife & drum marching band, he and his brother found the baseball minor league version (the “cadets”) of the Grenadiers Jr. Drum & Bugle Corps. They practiced drums just about every day while mom and dad never complained, even when visited by police officers and neighbors, some as far as three blocks away. After touring with regional acts for a few years, he studied with master drummer Gary Chester and ended up moving to New York City where he worked constantly, recording albums and demos spanning a range of musical styles and playing live in legendary venues including the Bottom Line, CBGB, the Knitting Factory and the Bitter End. Eventually moving back upstate, he contracted for different touring acts, performing with artists that included the World Wrestling Federation, Sesame Street's Bob McGrath, comedian Howie Mandel and National Steel guitar virtuoso Bob Brozman. He has enjoyed the opportunity to perform with the British band Foghat and currently fills the drum chair for Joey Molland's Badfinger. Mike also creates artwork using photography and digital manipulation, an artistic pursuit that was borne out of a music project he co-produced. His work has appeared in magazines and album covers including the Dillard's Jeff Gilkinson's “Hymn to the Road” and Foghat's release “Under the Influence”. He is currently working on a multi-piece concept about love and the moon.