Mike Boone was born in New York City and started taking piano lessons at the age of eight at the New York Schools of Music; then he attended the High School of Music and Arts, where he started studying upright classical bass. After that, Mike attended Eastman School of Music, studying with Oscar Zimmerman and James Van Demark. He went on the road with singer/dancer Ben Vereen in his junior year and returned to school to graduate in 1979. Mike went on the road with the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1982 and moved to Philadelphia in 1983, where he began a collaboration with trumpeter, Jeff Tyzik, recording several albums and touring. He went back on the road with Buddy Rich until 1986 when he settled in Philadelphia permanently and played with luminaries such as saxophonist Tony Williams, pianist Trudy Pitts, and trumpeter John Swana, pianist Shirley Scott, drummer Mickey Roker, and pianists Eddie Green and Uri Caine.
In 1994, Mike was hired to play in the notable sessions at Ortliebs' Jazz Haus for the famous Tuesday night house band with pianist Sid Simmons, and drummer Byron Landham. The trio was featured weekly for over 16 years, until the establishment was sold. Mike's first CD "Better Late Than Never" came out on the Dreambox label in 1994, with trumpeter , John Swana. Mike Boone's second CD "Old Heads" came out in 1998 and he began teaching at Cheyney State that same year. In 2000, Mike co-produced a double album of Philadelphia notable jazz players at Ortliebs' Jazz Haus and produced a series of filmed historical interviews with jazz musicians Orrin Evans, Darryl Hall, Rob Landham, Alison Crockett, and Rodney Green. From 2003-2010, Mike taught at the Kimmel Center summer program for middle and high school students , teaching bass and small ensembles. He joined the faculty at Temple University, in 2005, as an Adjunct Professor of Jazz (Bass) and is still on Faculty. Frequently, Mike tours with Ben Vereen and Jazz Organist, Joey DeFrancesco.
Mike’s compositions are on 7 self-produced CD’s and subsequent CDs with John Swana, violinist John Blake, Orrin Evans, guitarist Pete Smyser, Papa John DeFrancesco, percussionist Marlon Simon, pianist Ed Simon, and the Landham Brothers.
Mike has a new CD that will be coming out in the early spring. It's on the TRRC label entitled “Asynchronization Party”. He also has another EP entitled “Smoother Jazz”, which will be released independently in February.
Mike resides in Wilmington DE, with his wife, Candice, who is a Minister of Music and their 15yr old music prodigy, son, Mekhi.
