About Mike Schell

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing piano as a kid before picking up the trumpet in fifth grade. At the time, I didn’t realize how important the musical education I was receiving was but in retrospect, it’s provided me with some of the best friendships, skillsets, and opportunities I could ever ask for. At 16, I had the opportunity to march with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps in 2001, traveling across the country and into Canada while performing at a high level alongside incredibly talented musicians. That experience taught me discipline, musicianship, and the power of live music at an early age.

My path to guitar started in college when I met the guy living across the hall from me who played guitar. I quickly realized playing trumpet in a dorm room  was challenging. At the same time, I became interested with the instrument and hung out with my friend across the hall. On my next trip home, I grabbed the electric guitar I had bought years earlier and brought it back to campus. From that point on, I played every chance I got. What started with learning a few chords quickly grew into something much deeper as I applied the music theory and ear training I learned through trumpet to the guitar. That foundation helped me progress quickly, and before graduating college, I was playing weekly gigs and rediscovering how much I loved performing.

After college, life moved fast. My wife and I started building our life together, and after moving to Cleveland, my focus shifted more toward building a career in marketing than pursuing music. I still played here and there, but music took a back seat for a while. That changed when my son was born. Becoming a father reignited something in me. A desire to share the joy, creativity, and connection that music has always brought into my life.

Since then, I’ve poured myself back into my music including writing original songs, uncovering lesser-known songs worth sharing, and continuing to refine my live performances. Whether I’m playing solo acoustic sets or performing with a full band, I strive to create a fun, memorable live music experiences while exploring and developing my own original material. I hope to see you at the next show!