Mike Breen began his musical career in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania playing guitar and singing bluegrass music with his best friend Kenny Thompson. After a few years at Penn State University, Mike moved to Phoenix, Arizona and immediately got a gig in a folk duo called ‘Smith and Breen’ performing at the Salt Cellar restaurant and bar.
During the late 70′s and early 80′s Mike performed at the Windmill Dinner Theater in Scottsdale, Arizona as a member of ‘The Barnstormers, a New Christy Minstrel style group. After a brief stint as a booking agent Mike took up the electric guitar and began playing country music with Jim Bartlett and The Blue Hollar Band who worked consistently doing corporate events and private parties. This led to a stint with several bands at an 1880′s Western Town called Rawhide and after a few years Mike got the call to join the Red River Opry Band at a brand new 1000 seat venue in Tempe where he played acoustic and electric guitar as well as mandolin and banjo.
Mike released two CDs in the nineties to critical acclaim including rave reviews in “Dirty Linen“ and “Sing Out” which eventually led to a passion for recording. Also, during this period of time Mike got his first b bender telecaster which would eventually lead him to write and record a CD called “Mescal Mary and Other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals” which garnered rave reviews in such notable publications as “20th Century Guitar.”
The 1990′s found Mike freelancing with various bands as well as playing guitar for country stars that would come through town including Hank Thompson, Skip Ewing and John McKuen.
Currently, you can find Mike performing with his own band as well as doing solo performances throughout the country most recently opening for Jo Dee Messina at the Celebrity Theater and performing with Jessi Colter on NPR’s Michael Feldman’s “Whaddaya Know.” Mike also continues to record and produce his own and other artists’ music most recently working on Jessi Colter’s “Out of the Ashes” as well as music for television and movies including the made for TV special “Walker, Texas Ranger – Trial by Fire,” Discovery Channel’s “Sucking Amps,” A&E Biographies on Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Cuba Gooding Jr, Kevin Costner, Kevin Kline, Leonardo Di Caprio, Owen Wilson and the soon to be airing on Public Television “Lassie’s Pet Vet,” NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and TLC’s “Property Ladder,” “My First Home,” “The Discovery Channel’s “Clinically Wild – Alaska,” “ABC’s Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” “American Idol Rewind,” “Wedding Central,” “Farmer Wants A Wife” on the CW network, “Can You Duet” on CMT, “Clean House” on the Style Network, “Losing It, Tales From Fat Camp” and “The Osbornes Reloaded.”
Every Wednesday at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Vista Lounge, 6 pm – 10 pm
Every Friday afternoon at The Rusty Spur in Old Town Scottsdale from 11 am to 1:30 pm
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