Mike Mangione

Born in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois, as the youngest of three brothers, Milwaukee-based singer/songwriter Mike Mangione first took up guitar at age 13 on an instrument borrowed from his older brother Tom. That sibling would later serve as his lead guitarist and co-songwriter. After completing a degree in Urban and Environmental Affairs at Marquette University, Mangione accepted a minor acting part in the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, yet his primary focus remained music, leading him to self-release his debut album, There and Back, on September 2, 2005. Oarfin Distribution then issued his second album, Tenebrae, on August 5, 2008. In an era when television had grown into a primary outlet for music promotion, the record earned licensing placements on programs aired by MTV, Oxygen, and Lifetime.