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At the age of
seven, Mike began taking lessons on tenor banjo from his father, Charles
Currao. His father was an extraordinary musician who played with such
notables as Jimmy Durante, Paul Whiteman and Bing Crosby. Following in his
dad's musical footsteps Mike has been performing professionally for the past
forty years, playing guitar, tenor banjo, and mandolin.
The first major musical
experience took place at age 10, when he and his twin brother, Vince,
appeared on "live" TV and radio with the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. His
experience includes playing banjo, guitar and mandolin for "Porgy and Bess",
"Rhapsody in Blue", and "West Side Story", with the Northeast Philharmonic.
He also performed in a variety of Broadway show groups, including several
performances with Cab Calloway.
In addition, he played banjo for many
years with the All American Orchestra, the
Banjo-Aires, and the Bobby
Baird Dixieland Band. Mike went on to study advanced banjo techniques for
several years with Roy Smeck. Mike is presently on the faculty of the Banjo
Hall of Fame/Museum located in Guthrie, OK.
Mike is presently living in southwest
Florida, where he is giving private lessons, performing with local Dixieland
groups, and enjoying weekly sessions with the
Gulf Coast Banjo Society in
Venice, Florida |
