Mike Smith

Chair: Drums

Year joined: 2023

Favourite bands: Basie Band (the Sonny Payne era) and the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.

In 1987 Mike became the youngest full time member of the BBC Big Band and BBC Radio Orchestra working with some world class composers/arrangers, soloists and singers; most notably: Robert Farnon, Angela Morley, Ronnie Hazlehurst, George Shearing, Georgie Fame, Madeline Bell, Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, James Morrison and many more.

He has worked on TV shows such as Wogan, A Song for Europe and several Royal TV Gala Performances. He recorded numerous jingles for TV and Radio and made commercial recordings for such diverse artists as Larry Adler, Evelyn Glennie, Sting, Elton John, Spice Girls, and Dame Shirley Bassey at Carnegie Hall in New York.

West End shows include Hot Shoe Shuffle, Beauty and the Beast, The Witches of Eastwick, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Guys and Dolls and most recently Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Mike has recorded music for many TV dramas, including Lovejoy, Ballykissangel, Soldier Soldier, The Brief, Midsomer Murders, Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey.