Meet Mick Archer

This week Dr. Greta Pope sits down with Mick Archer. Classically trained Archer has established a career that encompasses Blues, Jazz, Rock, Celtic, Liturgical, Country and Folk/Americana music as pianist, singer, guitarist, songwriter and band leader. Since beginning his professional career, Mick Archer has performed in many styles and genres throughout metropolitan Chicago (his hometown), across the US, in Japan, Holland, Germany, Ireland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and Norway, bringing his unique combination of playing, singing and entertaining to worldwide audiences. Mick has recorded 4 albums of his original material. He has worked as a session player on numerous recording projects and jingles. He has been an opening act for Ray Charles, Jay Leno, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Styx, Ted Nugent and The Dells. Archer has worked as a sideman with The Drifters, The Platters, Tito Puente, Sugar Blue, Bill Acosta, Milt Trenier and Red Holt. His trio is featured in the Show Time Comedy Special “Don’t Get Me Started” with Joan Rivers. He’s also had a distinguished career as a teacher at The Old Town School of Folk Music, The City Colleges of Chicago and in his own studio in The Fine Arts Building in Chicago’s South Loop. Currently Archer leads The Blues 88's, a twin piano-vocal act that specializes in Blues, Hard Bop and Roots Music. A member of The Illinois Library Association, he is active as a presenter of concert-lectures with slide shows on numerous musical topics at libraries in the Greater Chicago Area. A member of The Murphy Roche Irish Music Club and leader of The Chicago Rovers, Mick has delighted audiences for over 20 years with his humorous versions of traditional, contemporary and his own original Celtic music. Mick Archer is the quintessential musician. He is actively looking to collaborate with lyricists and singers to continue to create dynamic original music.