Mike learned to sing 4-part harmony from hymnals at Lutheran church where Dad was pastor. Mom and Dad both sang baritone in barbershop chori; he faithfully tagged along. He sang bass in Music Man quartet in high school, also in Pony Expressmen from St. Joe, Mo., in 1974 international chorus contest.

He renewed SPEBSQSA membership in 1997 after being discovered singing in a gospel quartet at a church variety show. Once in AOH, he was hooked. He has sung baritone in a few quartets for shows for some smaller chapters or promoting singing valentines on the radio. He made a point of learning all four voice parts on the 12 songs from the Barber Polecat book, so that there'd always be room for him during tag-time.