Michael J. Sullivan (musician)

Michael J. Sullivan (born 6 April 1951, Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter, family therapist, actor and philanthropist.

Michael J. Sullivan

Michael J. Sullivan, 2010
Born Michael John Sullivan
(1951-04-06) April 6, 1951
Detroit, Michigan, US
Residence Traverse City, Michigan
Nationality American
Other names Mike Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Big Daddy
Alma mater Wayne State University
Occupation Musician, Therapist
Known for Song of the Lakes, Wild Sullys, Motor Town Juke Boys, That One Summer
Spouse(s) Joan Sullivan (married 1975)
Children 3

Musical career

Michael J. Sullivan is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with many groups throughout his career.

Song of the Lakes

Michael J. Sullivan is a founding member of the band Song of the Lakes which has been performing since 1983.[1] He plays the guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, concertina, sings and is one of the principle songwriters. The band began playing sea shanties and Celtic music throughout the Great Lakes but their sound grew to include jazz, rock and world music.[2] The band was selected twice to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival and in February 2007 celebrated their 25th anniversary with a concert at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Wild Sullys

Michael J. Sullivan, along with his son Kyle Sullivan, formed the Celtic rock band Wild Sullys. The Wild Sullys draw inspiration from the Celtic punk band The Pogues and Dropkick Murphys while combining elements of Motown. They are a fixture of St. Patrick's Day festivities in Traverse City [3] as well as playing music festivals throughout the year.

Motor Town Juke Boys

Michael J. Sullivan began writing songs with his childhood friend Bill McGettigan, influenced by the Detroit blues scene in the 1960s and 1970s. The two formed the Motor Town Juke Boys and in 1994 recorded and released White Folks Havin' Fun. Their satirical love song Double Wide Love was noticed by the Jenny Jones show and the Motor Town Juke Boys were invited to perform on an episode about male chauvinists, Double Wide Love on YouTube.[4]

Turtlenecks

Michael J. Sullivan, playing electric jazz guitar, and Norm Wheeler, trumpet and flugelhorn, formed the Turtlenecks. The Turtlenecks play an eclectic mix of Latin and jazz standards and poetry combined with rhythms of Brazilian bossa nova.[5]

Discography

Song of the Lakes

  • Song of the Lakes 25th Anniversary DVD
  • Poets Say
  • Horndance
  • Live Bait
  • Walkin’ the Plank
  • Pearl of America

Motor Town Juke Boys

  • White Folks Havin' Fun

Professional career

Sullivan is a marriage and family counselor with expertise in the transmission of anxiety through family systems.[6] He investigates the emotional processes and the role of social intervention in minimizing anxiety within families.[7] After graduating with a Master's Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University, he trained under Murray Bowen at Georgetown University to specialize in family systems theory.

Acting Experience

Michael J. Sullivan starred in the feature film That One Summer alongside Ernest Borgnine, who played his father.[8]

Philanthropy

Michael J. Sullivan is known to work with charities and non-profit organisations. He started the annual Lucky Leprechaun Ball which benefits the Father Fred Foundation and is one of their largest fundraisers each year.[9] He also volunteers for the Traverse City Film Festival where he serves as the musical director of over 150 musicians [10]

References

  1. ↑ Downes, Robert (2 Jan 2003). "20 Years of Song of the Lakes: The Boat still Floats for Baladeers of the Great Lakes". Northern Express. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Twardowski, Lynda (4 April 2008). "Song of the Lakes". Traverse (magazine). Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Bedard-Goytowski, Katie (13 March 2013). "Absolutely Irish". Grand Traverse Insider. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  4. ↑ name="Talk Show episode""Double Wide Love". Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "2007 Performances". Traverse City Film Festival. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Stanton, Anne. "High Anxiety". Northern Express. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Michael. "Anxiety, Relationship Intensity, and Social Intervention". Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "IMDB".
  9. ↑ McFarlane, Andrew. "Lucky Leprechaun Ball Fundraiser and Danny Boy Singing Contest". http://www.leelanau.com/. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Hepler Drahos, Marta (30 July 2010). "Musicians lining up to play at Film Festival". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 6 April 2013.

External links


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