Musically inclined as a child, Mike has played professionally since he was 14 years old. His father, the late singer/bandleader/drummer Eddie Piper, who had toured in the 1940’s with the now-legendary Ray Charles, introduced Mike to the drums at a young age. Quite naturally, Mike began his professional career at the first opportunity that would come along, first by filling in for his dad whenever possible, then working regularly at local Philadelphia jazz clubs such as South Philadelphia’s Gert’s, Emerson’s, and The Las Vegas Lounge beginning at age 15. Years later, after working full-time as a musician and traveling the United States and Canada extensively during the 1970’s and early 1980’s playing the “chitlin’ circuit,” Mike co-founded and performed with one of the area’s most exciting (and busiest) show bands, Southern Comfort, playing cabarets, private parties, concerts, and the top Philadelphia-South Jersey nightclubs of the era. During the late 1980’s, Mike played drums with the roots-rock band Junior League of America, performing and recording with the group for about two years until 1990, when he left the band to finish college and help raise his four sons. 

A Temple University graduate with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Mike has played primarily in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas during the past 15 years, working the corporate/private party circuit and local nightclubs. Mike recently completed a 15-month run in Atlantic City at Harrah’s Showboat Casino with Paul Grant’s New Orleans Swing Band.

Currently, Mike lives in Philadelphia and maintains a busy musical schedule. In between playing private parties with Swing Shift, and occasional performances with South Street favorites The Wild Bohemians, Mike can also now be heard playing drums regularly with The Phyllie Intruders, The Barbone Street Jazz Band, and playing bass in and around the Bucks County, Pennsylvania area with both the jazz quartet Harlequin and the classic rock/R&B band, The Cellar Ratz.