From Smokestack Lightin' review 2008:

Raised in a multicultural, ethnically diverse post World War II, San Diego neighborhood built for quick housing relief during the war named Linda Vista, Mike grew up listening to Chuck Berry, Coasters, Drifters, Elvis and Bill Doggett.  He favored R&B and Soul music over top 40 bubble gum songs. At the age of 13, he picked up the guitar and started playing pop music, (now R&B classics), in high school dance bands during the sixties.

In 1963 Mike entered the United States Air Force, and took his guitar, Mickey Baker's Jazz Guitar book and five record albums:  Bobby Bland's "Here's The Man," James Brown's "Live at the Apollo Theater," Ray Charles' "Greatest Hits," Freddy King's, "Hideaway" and B.B.King's "My Kind of Blues."

When Mike returned to his hometown of San Diego, in 1967, he started playing in pop bands touring around California. He formed the Irvine "Big Daddy" Rucker, Blues Band writing songs, and started recording. Michael maintains the largest record & tape collection of late blues legend Big Daddy Rucker. He spent the remainder of the seventies writing, sitting-in with other groups and at backyard barbecue jam sessions (real garage band stuff).

He formed "Cruizin," an Oldies but Goodies band, with Victor Marquez during the early eighties, and brought back classic Rhythm & Blues songs. He finished off the eighties in the King Biscuit Blues Band with blues harp king, Ken Schoppmeyer. Created Bostonia Music (ASCAP), recording and producing.

He established a guitar shop called "The Music Store," appeared as a guest on local Radio Stations, produced the publication, "Strictly Nothing But The Blues" during the late eighties and early nineties, while writing for other jazz & blues publications. He also formulated the "Blues Guitar Chord" manual, which is still in publication.

In the mid-nineties Mike started playing in coffeehouses, and sitting in with different groups. He was invited as the guitarist for the Gospel singing group, "The Brothers Of Praise," and co-write, arranged and produced their first CD entitled, "Are You Ready."

From 1997 to 2001, Michael played locally, but has mostly concentrated on writing, arranging and recording in his computer based digital studio. His first CD was titled Jazz, Rhythm & Blues which received air play on smooth jazz stations worldwide.

Major influence icons: BB King, Kenny Burrell, Freddy King, Wes Montgomery, Albert King, Wayne Bennett, Billy Butler, Oscar Moore and Otis Rush.

Current favorite picker is Chris Cain with Blind Pig Records. Favorite Jazzmen: Donald Byrd, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan and Horace Silver.

Favorite Gospel Groups: Gospel Hummingbirds & Jackson Southernaires. Favorite blues tunes: Stormy Monday and Going Down Slow, by Bobby Bland.

Favorite Album, BB King, "Live At The Regal."

Favorite jam, "Blue Train" by John Coltrane.

Mike was inducted into the National Heritage Blues Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named Ambassador for the Blues to Arkansas in 2005.  Mike has sponsored inductees of many other Arkansas Blues folks into the Blues Hall of Fame.  He has dedicated his lifetime to blues and jazz.  His current band "The Cruize Brothers,"  tour the southern part of the USA, and call their heartland blues rooted music, "Roadhouse," which combines blues, jazz, R&B and rock based music into a jammin' style that has a general audience appeal.  It is pure American made music with a turnip greens, beans and cornbread staple to it.  Featured in numerous blues and jazz magazines, Mike was honored this year in Chittlin' Circuit Magazine and in Blues Art Journal from Austria.

Mike Dollins & The Cruize Brothers' CD is currently played on over 100 radio stations worldwide, and add that with live radio and television appearances are called one of the best unknown bands around by Guitar Nine Magazine.   Mike's underground blues network is extensive in his on-line blues ezine at Blues Guitar News whereas he has tens of thousands of blues friends worldwide.   His motto for his band and others he meets along the trail is, "Keep on jammin' them blues." 

His current trio features smokin' Guido Ciradetti on bass, and back-beat Brad Messer on drums, both highly seasoned and skilled musicians.  Mike says this crew of Cruize Brothers is what it's all about for him, as the three flow and jam effortless live on stage.  A new CD is forthcoming. 

For much more, check out: www.mikedollins.biz