About

Who is Mick Archer

Singer, Songwriter, Pianist, Guitarist, Band Leader, Producer, Director, Writer

Classically trained (American Conservatory, University of Illinois, B. A., Masters Program in Music Liturgy/St. Joseph College)), 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 while still in grade school, Mick Archer has performed in many styles and genres throughout metropolitan Chicago (his hometown), across the US, in Japan ( pianist in residence at Westin /Tokyo in 2004),Holland, Germany, Ireland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and Norway, bringing his unique combination of playing, singing and entertaining ( trained in acting, improv and stand-up) to a worldwide audiences. For years, the first thing tourists heard when they disembarked at O’Hare International Airport was Mick Archer playing and singing at BUBBLES wine bar, inside The American Airlines Terminal.

  Mick has recorded 4 albums of original material, some of which received national college and public radio airplay, and worked as a session player on numerous recording projects and jingles. As an opening act, he’s worked with Ray Charles, Jay Leno, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Styx, Ted Nugent and The Dells, and 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, Park Ridge Park District, Family Piano/Waukegan, and for many years 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. He regularly plays a very unusual solo gig (none of the usual piano bar cliches) at SHILREY’S in Barrington. 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 Great 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 original Celtic music. He teaches piano,guitar, electric bass and voice for PARK RIDGE PARK DISTRICT, 21ST CENTURY KIDS, and FAMILY PIANO. He also writes, produces and directs cabaret shows, with his trio backing up a repertoire company of actor/singers at SKOKIE THEATER, DAVENPORT’S, and THE DEN THEATER.