Mike Sanchez

From a young age pianist Mike Sanchez embraced rhythm and blues revivalism while cultivating a strong taste for American rockabilly. He took up the piano at ten and quickly absorbed the high-energy styles of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, adopting their manic approach as his guiding influence. During his teenage years he added guitar to his skills and formed his first rockabilly group toward the end of the 1970s. Fellow roots-rock devotee Robert Plant connected him with kindred spirit Andy Sylvester, sparking an immediate bond that soon led the pair to launch the Big Town Playboys. The band’s popularity among 1980s blues-rock figures gradually brought Sanchez into contact with his idols Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood. Those associations produced recording partnerships, placing Sanchez on releases by the likes of Jeff Beck and Bill Wyman. Once he felt ready to pursue an independent path, the Playboys disbanded and Sanchez began issuing solo albums. Wyman then offered him a place in the Rhythm Kings, an invitation Sanchez accepted while channeling his customary energy into the new venture.