Born and raised in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Michael is a North California based music professional with recording, touring and teaching experience who specializes in Caribbean music. Along with many years in the Bay Area salsa club scene, Mike's performance highlights include numerous jazz festivals and latin music concerts as well as a European and West-Southwest US tour with a Spanish ska-soul band. Now focused on original music projects and production, Mike is working in collaboration with international timba (contemporary Cuban dance music) artists. Email him at: michael [at] timba.com.

Currently the Advanced Bass Instructor at Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz, California, as an educator he is dedicated to the traditions of afro-Caribbean and folkloric music. At Sylvan, Mike offers two fields of study: Comprehensive Bass Instruction (all styles, technique, theory, reading and rhythm) and Beginning to Intermediate Rhythm and Latin Percussion (polyrhythmic studies, Latin beats).