Mike Flanagan
Saxophonist
Pianist I Songwriter I Recording Artist Composer I Arranger I Music Director Educator
Bio
Mike Flanagan is a Billboard-charting, Lennon award-winning, and OUTmusic award-winning saxophonist, pianist, songwriter, composer, music director, educator, and actor. As a recording artist, Mike has released 4 albums, independently, under the moniker MikeMRF and has topped iTunes, charted on Billboard 3 times, won 2 OUTmusic Awards and a Lennon Award. His groundbreaking music video for his original song “Trying,” which he both acted in and directed, has over one million views on YouTube. Mike holds a BM from Berklee College of Music, as well as a MM from New York University, where he was immediately made an Adjunct Professor of composition. Upon graduating, Mike was offered his current role, serving as Artistic Director for both the Post Office Cafe & Cabaret and Tin Pan Alley in Provincetown, MA. Mike was also hired to music direct for Lea DeLaria at her venue, The Club Ptown, which he spent 3 years doing, in addition to leading his own 2-night weekly residency: one on piano with Lisa Bello in their R&B-Hybrid setting, and one night on sax leading his own jazz quintet where he featured guest performers, including Mike Tucker, Dave Zinno, Lee Fish, Marco Panascia, Tedd Firth, Gray Sargent, Tim Ray, Mike Maher, and many more. Mike is currently completing his 6th studio album, ‘Many Rivers’ on sax alongside his newly-formed jazz collective, co-fronted by Lauren Scales and Chris Grasso, and joined by bassist Luques Curtis, drummers Richie Barshay and Charles Haynes, and trombonist and Jazz Messenger, Steve Davis.
Mike Flanagan I MikeMRF
Lennon Award-winner 2x OUTmusic Award-winner 3x Billboard-charting Recording Artist
1 Million+ Views “Trying” Music Video on YouTube
MikeMRF, Lisa Bello, Justin Waithe, pass 1 Million Views on YouTube for the Official Music Video to their original song “Trying”, penned by Mike. The trio, affectionately known for years as ‘Mob Music’ (as in flash mob), named their two albums Mob Music and Mob Music 2. After Justin’s passing in 2020, Mike issued a rerelease of both albums as one ‘Mob Music’ project. The video co-stars musicians, Yasko Kubota on keys, Mike’s mentor and inspiration for pursuing a career in music, Jeff Ramsey, beloved colleague and friend of the band, on BGVs, and Mladen who acted opposite Mike in the lead role. Mike and videographer Steve Osemwenkhae directed and edited the video together.
The original Mob Music album, released in October of 2013, hit #1 on the iTunes Jazz Albums Charts and placed top 3 on Billboard Heatseekers. “Trying” would see radio play internationally and land the trio a nomination for “Best Music Video” in the 2014 OUTmusic Awards. That same year, Mike would take him Humanitarian Songwriter of the Year for original anthem “Be Strong (LGBT Youth)” and Best Spoken Word for “Tender”. In 2017, title track “Mob Music” won the Lennon Award in Hip-Hop in the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Competition. Mike, Lisa, and Justin. were competing against themselves as they had multiple nominations in multiple categories. The album went onto land Mike in a Master’s Program at New York University where he used the follow up album, Mob Music 2, as his course work.
Mike was made an Adjunct Professor of Composition upon entry and toured with Lisa Bello as part of her 2018-release, TOMMY Boy. Mob Music 2, was released as an R&B Album and landed at #37 on the iTunes R&B Albums Charts.
MikeMRF Discography
Mike Flanagan has released 4 studio albums under moniker MikeMRF.
