Mike Dalton makes original pop/rock music with intensity and originality. Mike’s vibe has caught on and fits right in with the hustle, bustle, and concrete surroundings of NJ’s urban areas, including a very hip college crowd, the Jersey Shore crowd, and the more mainstream audiences. His experience ranges from playing in front of crowds in a rock and roll bar to opening up for Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. What an extreme ! Mike sang the National Anthem for the greatest sports franchise in the world, the New York Yankees, and Stanley Cup winners, the New Jersey Devils. He was awarded “Best Music Video” on CTN, he won the “Unsigned Heroes” contest held by 97.5 WPST, and he was up for a “Daytime Emmy Award” for his songwriting work on the CBS soap opera, Guiding Light. He’s had over 200 airplays on national television shows such as As the World Turns, Another World, Guiding Light, and Passions. He’s currently writing and recording songs with Jim Babjak, the guitarist for The Smithereen’s. He has sang and played guitar for 2 nationally televised commercials and he has composed over 320 original songs.

Whew !


Mike’s Favorites

Originally from: Brick NJ

Music tools: Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bass, Mandolin, Harmonica

How long have you been playing these tools?: started learning ’em at 6

Musical influences: Beatles (McCartney especially), U2, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Bodeans, Crowded House, Del Amitri
Current favorite bands/artists: Band: Beatles Artist: Gavin DeGraw

Short Term Goal: get through the day with some sort of accomplishment

Long Term Goal: to be a good dad

CDs currently in car: actually don’t know, i listen to XM Radio a lot !

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: Seafood & Wings

Favorite TV show: anything on the History channel

Favorite movie: It’s a Wonderful Life

What book’s are you reading right now? too many to mention

Favorite Magazine: Maxim, Mad, & Men’s Health

Favorite Smell: grass

Alcoholic Beverage: Beer, Rum & Coke, Sambuca

What do you think about?: I can’t divulge that

What do you do in your spare time?: what we’re all doing

Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Done: made a kid


Mike Dalton – Q&A

1. AS A CHILD, WHAT WAS YOUR DREAM?
My dream, ever since I was about 6, was to do exactly what I’m doing now. Singing for people.

2. DID YOU EVER PLAY COPS & ROBBERS?
A lot of this went on with my brothers and my cousin Tommy. I remember many times racing around my Grandmother’s neighborhood on our bikes (sometimes on foot), or running around her property. I am the youngest of 3 boys, so Billy always got the best guns and my brother Timmy ALWAYS got the Moped…..!

3. WHICH ONE WERE YOU AND WHY?
Can’t really say I have a preference.

4. WHAT IS YOUR NATIONALITY, RACE?
I am Irish, English, Scotch, and a little American Indian.

5. HEIGHT? WEIGHT? COLOR EYES? COLOR HAIR? AGE?
Hazel Eyes, Light Brown Hair

6. ARE YOU VERY MUCH WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I’m a singin’ fool.

7. DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE? WHERE? WHAT DID YOU STUDY?
Rutger’s University, graduated 1989. Major in Communications, minor in Criminology

8. DID YOU STUDY MUSIC?
No, they wouldn’t let me. I inquired about the major of music and because of the fact that I didn’t have 10 years of jazz or theory, they wouldn’t let me in the major.

9. WHERE WERE YOU RAISED?
Brick NJ

10. WHO INSPIRED YOU TO MUSIC? (FAMOUS OR NON-FAMOUS PERSON)
A guy named Frankie Rendell who used to play in the seventies at the Lobster Shanty (Point Pleasant) and at the Top of the Mast (Seaside Heights). When I was 6, my parents used to bring us for the early show and Frankie would always let me come up and sing “Song Sung Blue” and play the tamborine. That was very big for me….he gave me my first microphone stand which I still use for every show I play….

11. DID YOU EVER HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS THAT MAKES YOU REALIZE HOW FINANCIAL
STABLE AND SUCCESSFUL YOU ARE NOW?
n/a

12. WERE YOU EVER INTERESTED IN OTHER CAREERS? WHICH ONES?
At one point I considered being a doctor, a vet, a lawyer, or a teacher. I still may go into teaching some day. Probably somewhere between 2nd and 5th grade….who knows?

13. DID YOU EVER WANNA BE LIKE YOUR FATHER (CAREER WISE) (AS A PERSON)
Yeah, I looked up to my dad all growing up…but as far as a career, he’s a Private Investigator and my two brothers have worked for him but I never had an interest in that.

14. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONALITY FLAW?
Too many to mention….

15. YOU HAVE A CHILD? HOW OLD? TELL US ABOUT HIM? HOW DOES HE RESEMBLE
YOU?
Trevor Michael Dalton is 6 months old as of May 23rd 1999. He was born on November 23rd, 1998. He’s is the single most interesting person I know (and the happiest !!!).

16. WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER HOBBIES? INTERESTS
Golf, Poker, Pittsburgh Steelers, NY Yankees, reading, beer, animals, and tons and tons of music….

17. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? (THE LITTLEST THING)
Trevor. A good golf shot. A peaceful day. A good song.

18. WHAT CHALLENGES YOU?
Understanding people and the decisions they make in their lives.

19. WHAT UPSETS YOU GREATLY?
Ignorance and disrespect for each other. Not cleaning up for yourself at your friend’s house, the lack of respect abortion shows for an unborn child, and everything in between….

20. DO YOU SCHMOOZE W/GIRLS YOU MEET AT PERFORMANCES? WHY OR WHY NOT?
I just hang out and have some beers and talk to my friends, and “fans” of the band ( I hate saying that word)

21. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU PLAY MOSTLY? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?
We play our original songs whenever we can and…anything Beatle-esque ,U2, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Del Amitri, Bruce, etc and a few top 40 hits once in a while just so people will leave me alone about it !

22. WHO DECIDED TO MAKE A COVER BAND? YOU AND WHO ELSE?
Never really decided to be a cover band, it was just easier to get my music heard if I played covers too. Kenney Petersen, Jeff Rataski, and myself started the whole thing….in 1983

23. WHERE WERE YOU AT WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE?
I was living right were I am now, in Brick.

24. WHAT YEAR WAS YOUR BAND ESTABLISHED?
Sattire: 1983
Mike Dalton and the Push: 1987
The Mike Dalton Band: 1991

25. WHEN DID YOU START GETTING FAMOUS?
I’m not famous.

26. DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD GET FAMOUS?
I’d like to, if only to get my music out there and play for larger amounts of people

27. WHAT YEAR WAS THE BAND NAMED “MIKE DALTON AND THE PUSH?” HOW WAS THE
GROUP LIKE IN DRESSING AND MUSIC BACK THEN? WHAT YEAR WAS THE NAME CHANGED
TO “THE MIKE DALTON BAND?”
In 1987, as a member of the Push, I was wearing Levi’s 501’s “as a rule” (black), and black everything…
Everyone pretty much wore what they wanted to…we experimented with jackets, and trying to find a “look”, etc….but eventually, we just wore whatever we liked with no plan….

28. ARE YOU SURPRISED BY YOUR SUCCESS? IS YOUR GROUP SURPRISED BY YOUR SUCCESS?
I can’t say that I’m surprised as much as thankful. Success is a strange word to me, I never really feel like I have success ‘cuz I always want more. We’re an incredibly lucky band to be playing over 200 shows a year consistently for so long but we’d like to bring it to a higher level. As for the success we’ve had so far, we don’t take it for granted….

29. DID YOU WANNA DO THIS SINCE A KID? Absolutely.

30. WHEN DID YOU BECOME KNOWN/FAMOUS? WHAT YEAR? famous? not quite there yet….!
We got on the club scene in 1987 and developed a following during the next few years….

31. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF DOWN TO EARTH OR SNOTTY? WHAT DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE CONSIDER YOU TO BE?
I would hope people consider me to be down to earth because I really do know that I’m a very average guy, but I’m sure once in while I’m capable of coming off the wrong way. Sometimes I’m quiet and that gets misunderstood sometimes.

32. DID MOM AND/OR DAD INSPIRE YOU OR HELP YOU IN ANY WAY SUCCEED? IF NOT,
WHO DID? WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS DO FOR A LIVING?
My father is a private investigator and my mother was my mom….they both supported my dreams very much…..and inspired me to work hard to accomplish my goals.

33. WHAT AWARDS HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED OR ACHIEVED?
I was up for a daytime emmy in 1994 for a song called “Waiting in the Wings” on Guiding Light that I sang with Melina Kanakaredes….but I haven’t actually won any awards.

34. WHAT FAILURES IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS HAVE YOU HAD? HOW DID YOU FEEL?
DID YOU WANT TO GIVE UP?
I’ve been turned down by labels (obviously) throughout the years…but I don’t get discouraged. I have never ever considered giving up. Not for one minute.

35. HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU TO YOUR WORK? 100 %

36. DO PEOPLE INFLUENCE YOU IN YOUR LYRICS? WHO ESPECIALLY AND WHY?
Everybody that walks in (or out) of my life runs the risk of getting thrown into a song !

37. HOW DO YOU WRITE MUSIC, BY HEART OR FORMULA, PICTURES, DREAMS, ETC?
I use all of those resources and more…..however, I don’t really believe that ALL songs must follow the “formula”….i believe in being creative and wherever that takes you is fine. Following rules when it comes to songwriting is one of the most ridiculous things I ever heard. Sure, it may bring in more cash, but if you’re writing songs JUST for cash, it probably gets a little boring.

38. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR AT YOUR SHOWS, FLANNELS, T-SHIRTS? WHY? DO
YOU FEEL REBELOUS OR SEXY WHEN YOU WEAR A CERTAIN OUTFIT?
Most of the time I wear whatever I grab. I’m not exactly the most fashionable guy out there. And, I’m certainly not sexy. That word is so goofy. I hate it.

39. HAVE YOU EVER MADE HEADLINES OR HEARD RUMORS OF SOMETHING WILD THAT
YOU’VE DONE EITHER BEFORE FAME OR DURING?
Anything wild I usually just keep to myself……..! Actually though, I’m not really all that exciting. If anyone ever did an in-depth look at me at home, they’d probably have to drink a lot of coffee and bring a few movies to watch to keep themselves entertained…! I just walk around the house cleaning up and doing office work and stuff. Real exciting.

40. DO YOU MISS YOUR LONG HAIR FROM HOW IT WAS ONCE WHEN YOUR BAND WAS “THE PUSH”
Nah, it got too curly when it got long. I cut it off, stuffed it in my wigwams and grew up.


The Mike Dalton Band
Author: Maddy Soto
Editor: David Rothman

Do people trust you when you say that Mike Dalton has the ability to
draw a crowd when his band performs in town? If someone told you that The
Mike Dalton Band is an incredible Jersey Shore band, would you automatically
assume it’s true? You hear someone spreading word about a terrific cover
band coming to town; would you be curious as to attend the show, even if
you’ve never heard of them? Well, when a person tells you a story, they
are suppose to blurt every detail. But we don’t always get the answers do
we?

Who is Mike Dalton? What are Mike’s credits? What type of music does he
play? What does Mike Dalton really have to offer? Many fans and roundabout
newcomers want to know. Even so, fans usually don’t wanna sign up on his
mailing list until they hear his music. And when they do hear his music,
the fans are ready to get those pens to hit the pad. Psst! Here’s some
information. This young talent is better looking than the average rock and
roller. He certainly makes other band singers look like lightweights. His
credits and reviews are outstanding. And, of course, there’s something
smooth and likable almost childlike about him. We can’t ignore his ability
to jam up a bar and last but not least, the fact that he’s not allergic to
smiling is quite catching to those in the audience.

Yes, we do notice his charm. And we did get used to his zest. But for the
handful of people who haven’t yet tuned into Mike’s true background history,
you will now find out some real Mike Dalton quotes and you will now learn
about his quite primitive profile.

MIKE DALTON’S FANS SPEAK:
FAN #1: “Mike Dalton rocks!”
FAN #2: “Dalton and his band are definitely part of the future of rock and
roll!”
FAN #3: “We’ve been fans of Mike Dalton for years! He’s making his way up
the ladder of success in the music business!”

As you can see, it isn’t hard to find fans like these at any
concert where Mike Dalton appears in front of major musical acts, or when
he’s playing in front of a small crowd in a Jersey shore rock and roll bar.
This is a big part of Mike Dalton’s lasting success: his musical and
personal integrity. In an industry dominated by high profile maniacs, The
Mike Dalton Band makes its mark steady but surely by producing quality
original rock music, by playing other stars’ music with intensity and
originality, and by meeting the incredible demands of established artists
like Simon and Dylan.

There are still lots of people who never heard of The Mike Dalton Band, but
so what? Some of the right people have, and they are sharing the good news.
Their fans know, and they are The Mike Dalton Band’s best advertisements.
Ask any fan that loves his sexy groove, and they’ll agree that Mike works it
in all the right ways. Oh yeah, the reviews have been knockout too:

MIKE DALTON’S REVIEWERS SPEAK:

The Aquarium, Al Muzer
“An excellent example of radio pop at its finest.”

Soap Opera Digest, Christine Champagne
“It’s only a matter of time before Dalton
has a top-10 hit on the Billboard charts.”

The Ties That Bind, Maggie Powell,
“Poker is an outstanding collection of well written
songs, ranging in tempo from straight-ahead
rock to a beautifully performed ballad.”

Herald & News, Don DiIorio
“His latest release reveals a deft songwriting
craft – smart pop writing with broad appeal.”

Parkhill’s – John Park Hill
“Best Rocker on the Jersey Shore”

Martell’s Tiki Bar – Mike Holland
“He is the most personable… he is
conscientious, devoted and talented.”

Mrs. Dalton (Mike’s Mother)
“Don’t wait for your ship to come in.
Swim out after it!”

Lots of folks wonder what it takes to make it in the rock music business.
It’s no magical mystery: it takes talent and hard work. If you are in
demand on the New Jersey shore and inland as well, and can stand the rigors
of performing up to 200 shows a year for years running, then sooner or later
the top artists and producers hear your work and expand your opportunities.
That is exactly what has happened with The Mike Dalton Band, consisting of
Mike Dalton [lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, drums, songwriter]; Greg
Felise [bass]; Eddie Carson [guitar, vocals] and Jimmy Druiett [drums,
guitar, vocals]. The Mike Dalton Band is endorsed by Miller Lite Beer and
uses Washburn Guitars, Warwick and Spector Basses and Sound Tech
Reinforcement.

Since 1983, Mike has been carving out his own territory in New
Jersey and getting ready to launch the band’s careers worldwide from the
great homeland for rock and roll that New Jersey has become over the past 25
years.

Why has New Jersey been such a great place to start a career in the rock
music industry, where so many bands fall apart and disappear? First, the
shore. It’s a community that is loyal to hardworking bands who are willing
to take risks and hone their skills. It’s a community that is
nature-oriented but is close to the big cities. It’s a place with an
identity of its own, so shore residents are mostly secure folks who
appreciate good music when they see and hear it. The natural surroundings
of the Jersey shore provide so many people with a place to have good clean
fun – which is what rock music is all about anyway, so it fits right into
the terrain. And since 1983, The Mike Dalton Band, under several previous
names, has been entertaining small and large crowds with the same intensity
and dedication to quality music, whether it’s one of their 300 original
songs [written mostly by Mike Dalton] or their many “covers” of other, major
artists.

Of course you’ll recognize the artists whose songs they’ve performed:
there’s some of everyone’s favorites in this repertoire. How about:
“Beetles, Paul McCartney, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Del Amitri, John
Mellancamp, Peter Gabriel, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Paul Simon, Blues Traveler,
Neil Diamond, James Taylor and The Smithereens”. No band can perform the
work of these consummate musicians and last as long as The Mike Dalton Band
has lasted without doing a whole lot of things right! Buncha crush grooves,
the fans say.

So what’s the story behind their success? Here are just a few of the facts.

No, wait! A few more fans have something to say.

MIKE DALTON’S FANS SPEAK:
FAN #4: “When The Dalton Band plays [Stone Temple Pilots], the place goes
wild!”
FAN #5: “Their original stuff is as good as a lot of the famous stuff they
do by other artists.”
FAN #6: “Dalton’s band is gonna make it big pretty soon. You can tell.
They’re that good.”

As we were saying. The Mike Dalton Story starts when he was very young.
He started playing guitar at six, and like all truly great musicians, it
became an obsession. As his talent grew, so did his obsession grow into
dedication to a professional career goal: to play live music in front of
appreciative fans.

Between the ages of thirteen and 21, Mike learned drums, piano and
keyboards. He and his two brothers grew up in Brick, New Jersey, where he
still lives. Mike has a son named Trevor (eight months old at the time of
this writing). A devoted father, Mike laughs and says of his son: “He looks
like his mommy and daddy. He’s the most interesting person I know.”

Long before other cover bands ever splashed across the Jersey Shore and
musical landscape, “Mike Dalton and the Push” were at one point singing and
guitar-slinging their way into the top back in 1983. The band started when
Kenney Petersen and Jeff Rataski were practicing “Message in a Bottle” by
“The Police”. Mike didn’t really know the song, but faked his way through
it. It turned out to be pretty good, and the band known as “Sattire”
started up later that year. They’ve been going stronger and stronger ever
since. How many local bands made a name for themselves with top artists and
a strong adoring public? And done background-songs for national TV shows
like “The Guiding Light”? And nationally televised soundtracks for
commercials like “Bubble Bopper” and “Sonic Slammer”? Hardly anybody.
Maybe nobody. It appears The Mike Dalton Band is in a class by itself, and
their star is still on its way up.

For those of you who watch daytime drama, you’ve probably heard some Dalton
original tunes and may not have even known it. His work has been heard more
than 150 times on “Guiding Light”, “As the World Turns” and “Another World”.
Although he’s known more for his “cover” work so far, this exposure on
national television is not only a great professional credit – it’s proof
that The Mike Dalton Band has what it takes to make it to the very top in
the music business.

MIKE DALTON’S VIDEO CREDITS & HONORS:

• Sang the National Anthem for the New York Yankees on August 20, 1996
• Performed for the New Jersey Devils and New Jersey Red Dogs at Continental
Airlines Arena
• Best Music Video, Cable Television Network’s Annual Award
• “Unsigned Heroes” Award, WPST radio
• Hired by Miller Lite for Regional Promotional Campaign
• Played before Paul Simon and Bob Dylan at PNC Arts Center, First Stage on
July 28, 1999
• Currently writing songs with Jim Babjak, guitarist for The Smithereens
• His music has played over 150 times on day time soap operas like “The
Guiding Light”, “As the World Turns” and “Another World”
• Has nationally televised soundtracks for commercials like “Bubble Bopper”
and “Sonic Slammer”
• Has composed more than 300 original songs
• Was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award “Waiting in the Wings” in 1994
• Has had airplay on many local stations such as “WRAT”, “WPST” and “WHTG”

Mike Dalton has composed more than 300 original songs. In 1994, one of
Mike’s originals, “Waiting in the Wings”, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy
Award under “Best Original Song”. Not bad for a Jersey Shore band that
started in a vacant room in a friend’s house in 1983! And the composer of
that nominated song was faking when he started playing the guitar with his
friends!

The beyond-talented artist has no problem showing up to a show in
“whatever” he grabs hiding behind those huge hazel eyes and an equally
sporty baseball cap that he “so-often” wears. This gifted rock star knows
what looks good and his hordes of female fans couldn’t agree more. Since
those early days the band has gone through some changes, but not many. The
most obvious have been external – choice of clothes and a certain “look”
that defines them as a group. They tried a few different things, but
nothing worked to their satisfaction, so they decided as a group to just
wear what they wanted and look the way they wanted. Mike adds, “In 1987, as
a member of Mike Dalton and The Push, I was wearing Levi’s 501’s ‘as a rule’
black, and black everything. Everyone pretty much wore what they wanted to.
We experimented with jackets, and trying to find a look, etc., but
eventually we just wore whatever we liked with no plan.”

That, too, has worked for their many fans, and for their
professional supporters and sponsors as well. These include some of the
most famous and prestigious Jersey Shore “music bars”, places where some
national acts got their start wearing the casual look.

Some Dalton Covers Of Artists
Played When Not Playing Their Own Stuff!

The Beatles, U2, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Bryan Adams, Matthew Sweet, Stone
Temple Pilots, Bruce Springsteen, Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel,
The Doors, Pearl Jam, Neil Diamond, John Mellancamp, James Taylor, The
Smithereens, Blues Traveler, Aerosmith, Squeeze, The Police, Billy Joel,
Pink Floyd, Elvis, The Goo-Goo Dolls, The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes
and many many more.

The Mike Dalton Band has had airplay on many local stations, such
as WRAT, WPST and WHTG and the interesting combination of originals and
cover caught on, both with the college-radio crowd, the Jersey Shore crowd
and the more mainstream audience. Add in the duo’s indefatigable approach
to touring from the Jersey Shore and throughout North Jersey and New York
City, and you get a long-lasting formula for success.

The Mike Dalton Band is dug in deep. Their fans are steady
followers of their new work, as well as great appreciators of their
performance of other, famous compositions. “I’m surprised as much as
thankful,” says Mike Dalton. “Success is a strange word to me. I never
really feel like I have success because I always want more.” Is it all
talent or luck plus talent and hard work that has propelled The Mike Dalton
Band this far? “We’re an incredibly lucky band to be playing almost 200
shows a year for so long.” If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (and
we’re willing to believe this particular adage), then the young Mike Dalton
has a very long and illustrious career ahead of him. This songbird knows
that he doesn’t have to fit into somebody else’s mold to make an undeniable
impact.

We can’t decide if it’s the legs, the snaked-hips or the knockout
charisma that makes Mike Dalton so fabulous. But one thing’s for sure: he’s
maintained a signature look that has not only stayed fresh, but has evolved
effortlessly with the passing decades. From the young “Sattire” era to the
long-haired “Mike Dalton and the Push” years to the new “Mike Dalton Band”
look of today, Dalton has the kind of larger-than-life presence that defines
personal style.

With more than 300 original song compositions under his belt, you would
think Mike Dalton’s ego would start to balloon, but not so. It appears that
the creative process is such a part of Dalton’s involvement in the music
world, that it helps keep everything in proper perspective. Does he follow
a “formula” to write songs, like we hear so many other band leaders do? No.
Inspiration can come from many sources – from meeting someone new, to
seeing a painting on a wall, to feelings and past experiences in one’s own
life.

MIKE DALTON SPEAKS ON SONGWRITING:

“Just about every person within eyesight or earshot finds a way
into my songs. Some more than others. I use all of those resources and
more. I don’t believe songs must follow a ‘formula’. I believe in being
creative and wherever that takes you is fine. Following rules in
songwriting is ridiculous. It may bring in more cash, but if you’re writing
songs just for cash, then something’s wrong with your dedication as an
artist and your heart isn’t in the right place. Sure, we have a ‘product’
that we ‘sell’, but it’s also more than that. It entertains people and it
deals with their emotions. I don’t think it’s appropriate to create
something in that category just for the money. If we are influencing
people’s lives, we should try to do it with some sensitivity too. That’s
what songwriting means to me at its best. And that is how we choose many of
the songs by other artists that we perform. We choose what moves us, what
has meaning for us, and we try to share that creative and inspirational
process.”

It’s an oft-heard cliché, but when it’s true, it means something. Mike
Dalton doesn’t live ‘above’ the crowd; he considers himself part of it. He
enjoys golf, playing poker with friends, reading, watching the Yankees and
Pittsburgh Steelers, drinking Miller Lite and of course listening to tons of
music. In his childhood he was briefly influenced by his father’s career as
a private investigator, which brings some irony to the fact that it was a
song by the great British rock group The Police that started the whole thing
back in the early ’80s. Mike’s father helped determine part of Mike’s
college years: he majored in Communications and minored in Criminology.
Mike graduated from Rutgers University in 1989.

Aside from a strong interest in Communications, Mike briefly considered
being a doctor, lawyer or teacher, and may still go into teaching someday.
“Probably somewhere between second and fifth grades are my main interest,”
he says. Mike also considered being a veterinarian because he loves animals
– in the extreme! At home he has one dog, seven cats, two rabbits and one
fish. His hobbies are as normal as normal gets: backyard barbecues, spicy
food and VH1. Mike’s cartoon favorites are Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Kinda
hard to go too far wrong with that background check.

HOW MIKE DALTON GOT HIS START:

Mike’s first musical inspiration was a guy named
Frankie Rendell who played the Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant and Top of
the Mast in Seaside Heights – both early Jersey Shore bars and restaurants.
“When I was six years old,” Mike says, reminiscing, “my parents used to
bring my brothers and I to the early show and Frankie would always let me
come up and sing ‘Song Sung Blue’ and play the tambourine. That was very
big for me. Frankie gave me my first microphone stand, which I still use
for every show I play.” How many artists today have that attitude? Not
many. Maybe not any.

We must wonder whether Mike is a contemporary icon, a hardworking
music writer, a dedicated father, a media-savvy celebrity, or a go getter?
Maybe all of the above. And as we approach Y2K and the cusp of his middle
age, Mike has learned to live life on his own terms. He does not waste
time. “I was up for a daytime Emmy back in 1994 for a song called “Waiting
in the Wings” on Guiding Light that I sang with Melina Kanakaredes.” Mike
is dedicated to his work 100% and as he adds, “I don’t get discouraged. I
have never ever considered giving up. Not for one minute.”

Now a star in his own right, Dalton continues to wow audiences with
his often body-conscious, always eye-popping ensembles. How much of The
Mike Dalton Band’s commitment connects with their Jersey Shore roots and how
much has to do with “making it” on the national or international stage? “Of
course we’d like to bring it to a higher level. We don’t take our success
so far for granted. We want to add to it, we want to show our current fans
that we can make them even more proud of us, and we’d like to introduce our
work to everybody out there who loves good hard-driving rock music!”

So based on what The Mike Dalton Band has done so far, that will
probably happen sooner than later.

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