Michael grew up on 16th and 26th Streets at the beach and went to school with a bunch of local talent.  He knew the owners of a lot of the area businesses, as he used to service restaurant equipment. Michael used to love to ride the old roller coaster at Ocean View Park, or just hang out at Seaside Park. He was a short order cook on the 15th Street Pier and Ocean Eddies, where he has met and made a lot of his musician friends.