Nationality American Occupation Musician, Therapist | Alma mater Wayne State University Name Michael Sullivan | |
Full Name Michael John Sullivan Born April 6, 1951 (age 73) ( 1951-04-06 ) Detroit, Michigan, US Residence Traverse City, Michigan Other names Mike Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Big Daddy Known for Song of the Lakes, Wild Sullys, Motor Town Juke Boys, That One Summer | ||
Michael J. Sullivan (born 6 April 1951, Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter, family therapist, actor and philanthropist.
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Musical career
Michael J. Sullivan is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with many groups throughout his career.
Song of the Lakes
Michael J. Sullivan is a founding member of the band Song of the Lakes which has been performing since 1983. He plays the guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, concertina, sings and is one of the principle songwriters. The band began playing sea shanties and Celtic music throughout the Great Lakes but their sound grew to include jazz, rock and world music. The band was selected twice to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival and in February 2007 celebrated their 25th anniversary with a concert at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Wild Sullys
Michael J. Sullivan, along with his son Kyle Sullivan, formed the Celtic rock band Wild Sullys. The Wild Sullys draw inspiration from the Celtic punk band The Pogues and Dropkick Murphys while combining elements of Motown. They are a fixture of St. Patrick's Day festivities in Traverse City as well as playing music festivals throughout the year.
Motor Town Juke Boys
Michael J. Sullivan began writing songs with his childhood friend Bill McGettigan, influenced by the Detroit blues scene in the 1960s and 1970s. The two formed the Motor Town Juke Boys and in 1994 recorded and released White Folks Havin' Fun. Their satirical love song Double Wide Love was noticed by the Jenny Jones show and the Motor Town Juke Boys were invited to perform on an episode about male chauvinists, Double Wide Love on YouTube.
Turtlenecks
Michael J. Sullivan, playing electric jazz guitar, and Norm Wheeler, trumpet and flugelhorn, formed the Turtlenecks. The Turtlenecks play an eclectic mix of Latin and jazz standards and poetry combined with rhythms of Brazilian bossa nova.
Song of the Lakes
Motor Town Juke Boys
Professional career
Sullivan is a marriage and family counselor with expertise in the transmission of anxiety through family systems. He investigates the emotional processes and the role of social intervention in minimizing anxiety within families. After graduating with a Master's Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University, he trained under Murray Bowen at Georgetown University to specialize in family systems theory.
Acting Experience
Michael J. Sullivan starred in the feature film That One Summer alongside Ernest Borgnine, who played his father.
Philanthropy
Michael J. Sullivan is known to work with charities and non-profit organisations. He started the annual Lucky Leprechaun Ball which benefits the Father Fred Foundation and is one of their largest fundraisers each year. He also volunteers for the Traverse City Film Festival where he serves as the musical director of over 150 musicians