The only thing Mike Grabow needs to create a smash hit, is his guitar. A child of the road, he spent the first 20 years of his life with nothing but music and the highway, moving from one town to the next, with his family.
With only a couple of dollars in his pocket and endless hours to kill while traveling, he taught himself to write music and developed his voice.
All of the practice was well worth. Now he delivers effortless acoustic performances, reminiscent of Gavin Degraw, Jason Mraz, and Martin Sexton, without inhibition.
Michael Robert Grabow, born October 20, 1983 in Carson City, Nevada, came from less than humble beginnings. His mother Lorin and father, Jeff, of Polish and German descent, did their best to give him and his two brothers a diversified taste of life, with the very little they had. Religion, art and music came before all else. Mike’s mother, also vocally inclined, sang them to sleep as kids.
Aside from the lullabies, Mike’s childhood was “rough” and unconventional. He grew up in a trailer, moving across the United States, from California to New York, Oregon, Nevada, Canada, and an Idahoan campground. “Home” schooled by his mother, he became a very imaginative, self-contained child.
“We didn’t have many material things, which was a blessing in disguise. I learned to appreciate the important things in life.”
They eventually settled down in Gardnerville where he gave Douglas High School a shot. While he had a victorious run of winning football games and an active social life, he felt suppressed creatively. After constantly getting provoked by one of his coaches, he walked away from all of it. He “dropped” out of school his sophomore year. He dropped everything, except his music.
The school allowed him to continue participating in their arts program, including him in 3 choral classes. The Director of the Choir saw something in him that was different from his other students. He told Mike that if he worked vigilantly, he could make it in the industry.
He did a few shows and started getting his sound together before encountering an ad for Fashion Rock, an event held each year in Orlando by Lou Pearlman, offering artists the opportunity to perform for A&R representatives.
A plane ride later, he was on stage, given the opportunity to perform for 60 seconds. That’s all it took to catch the attention of five executives from record labels including Capitol Records, Artemis Records and his current producer, Rick Bacchus.
Without further ado Rick flew him into Manhattan for a meeting in his studio. Within minutes they began collaborating. Within months Rick began recording his album under production company, Bacchus Productions, on which he has produced chart toppers for The Backstreet Boys, Alicia Keys and most recently, Jessica Simpson.
Rick has big, big plans for Mike. Almost as big as the plans he has for himself. But above all Mike wants to live contently.
Just give him some fresh air, a little raw emotion and a guitar, and he’ll show you just how good life can sound.
