Alabama Mike, a certified blues man, was born Michael Benjamin in Talladega Alabama in 1964. This was where he spent all of his formative years. Early on, he was musically influenced by his father Joseph Benjamin. Joseph was a very talented quartet, tenor vocalist from whom he inherited that soulful, gospel drenched approach to his vocal style. He sings any style rather its low down blues or uptown soul with the style and finesse of a vocal master.
A stint in the US Navy brought him to Oakland Ca where he now resides. His early influences were ZZ Hill, Johnnie ‘Soul” Taylor, Lightning Hopkins and Junior Wells. Alabama Mike recently received the 2022 “Muddy Waters” Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jus’ Blues Foundation in Tunica Mississippi. He has been nominated for by the Blues Foundation for Traditional Blues Artist Of The Year 2011 and Traditional Blues Band Of The Year 2014 with The Hound Kings . He won Traditional Blues Artist Of The year 2010 by the Bay Area Blues Society. In addition, he has played major festivals, both domestically and internationally. He has to date released several solo projects that are available on most digital platforms. The most recent releases being, “Upset The Status Quo” which includes the hits MISSISSIPPI and Restraining Order and also a Big Tone Records release entitled “Hip You To My Blues”. He has collaborated and shared the stage with many industry giants including, Kid Andersen, D’Mar Martin, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Bob Corritore, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Toni Tone Tony, Big Jon Atkinson, Jim Pugh, Jerry Jemmott, Bob Corritore , Kim Wilson and many others. In his latest tour, Alabama Mike joined the Andy T Band featuring Anson Funderburgh. Alabama’s works locally with, The Mighty Regulators, includes Ronnie Smith (Drums), AJ Joyce (Bass), Bernard Anderson (Sax) and Bobby Young (Guitar) who are all bringing great music to the San Francisco Bay area blues scene.