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MIKE SANCHEZ was born in the east end of London on the 17th of February 1964 to Spanish parents Jesus and Manola, who encouraged their son to take up basic piano lessons at the age of ten. In 1975 the family moved from London to Worcestershire in the midlands where Mike attended Bewdley High school. Though living away from city life and not enjoying the monotony of classical piano tutoring, Mike did grow an interest in 1950's music due to the late 70's/early 80's Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly sub culture that was so prominent at the time. Bands like the STRAY CATS and THE JETS etc were charting with a style that turned Mike into a keen follower. At the age of sixteen he was bought an acoustic guitar as a christmas present and quickly began singing and learning the chords to all his favourite Sun recordings. Mike formed a band with school friends including IAN JENNINGS (Big Town Playboys bassist). As THE ROCKETS they quickly found work around the region and within two years were travelling as far as London and Newcastle.

ROBERT PLANT was one of the local followers who introduced the band to ANDY SILVESTER (ex Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, Steve Gibbons, etc) which lead to the beginnings of the BIG TOWN PLAYBOYS in the summer of 1984.
Birmingham based frontman RICKY COOL (ex Icebergs, Rialtos etc, who had also been Mike's woodwork teacher at Bewdley High) was an important member in the beginning and co-fronted the Playboys with Mike who by now was focusing on R'n'B and Boogie piano styles more so than guitar.
The following fifteen years bought about numerous developments and saw the BIG TOWN PLAYBOYS emerge as one of the finest authentic ass kicking Rhythm'n'Blues bands of recent times most of which is well documented. With several album recordings, countless tours from Finland to Spain, from Ireland to Dubai, from Norway to Egypt, three separate stints opening up for ERIC CLAPTONs ROYAL ALBERT HALL residencies, movie soundtracks for ANN DUDLEY and JEFF BECK, European Blues festivals backing legendary Bluesmen like LOWELL FULSON, DON & DEWEY, JOE HUGHES, JIMMY NELSON, CHAMPION JACK DUPREE, CARRIE BELL and LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD, US tours with MICK FLEETWOOD, photographs and chapters in the GUINESS WHO'S WHO OF BLUES and Bob Brunning's BLUES IN BRITAIN - THE HISTORY, Mike Sanchez has continued to recieve excellent reviews and a growing reputation for his role as a singer, pianist, frontman and entertainer and is currently (2000) enjoying the most productive stage of his life yet...

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MIKE SANCHEZ HAS WORKED WITH AND PLAYED FOR

Gary Brooker
Eric Clapton
Mick Fleetwood
Robert Plant
Van Morrison
Andy Fairweather Low
Mark Knopfler
Dave Gilmour
Jools Holland
Robert Cray
Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings
Dr Feelgood
Peter Richardson
The Paladins
Robbie Coltrane
Kate Bush
Brian May
Peter Green
Little Willie Littlefield
Christine McVie
Rick Vito
Geraint Watkins
Steve Gibbons
...