Born: October 17, 1974 Primary Instrument: Bass, electric
Mike 'Bere was born Michael Ebere Nwosu to a Ghanaian Mother and a Nigerian Father in Lagos, Nigeria on 17th October 1974. Music was part of the family as his Father played the locally made percussion called “Omile” and His mother sang in the Choir. This provided the needed basis for Mike's interest in music. In 1982, in Aba, Abia state of Nigeria. He started trying his hands on percussion and when in 1987 he moved with his Parents to Lagos, he met a friend who had an acoustic rhythm guitar hanging in his room as a mere decoration. Mike would later visit his friend daily after school hours to practice with the guitar. Music instructional books in Lagos were scarce in those days and he painfully searched for music books for information. When he was comfortable with some basic major and minor chords, his love for music saw him switching over to bass guitar. Said He, “…if playing a six-stringed instrument was possible, then playing four should be easier.” That same year he started playing drums, which came naturally.
In 1987, he joined the choir of TREM (A Pentecostal Church) as a Tenor Singer and later switched over to join the musicians as a percussionist and an second Drummer. His zeal to be a good musician made him work tirelessly on all the instruments he played. Slowly but surely, he was getting better and proficient. This caught the fancy of Bands, artistes and other musicians who preferred having him on board. By 1992, He has started creating a name for himself within the country.
In 1996, He was invited to play drums for Dr. Sotiris Papadopoulus (a Greek Guitarist) who was setting up a Jazz Band. This invitation proved to be the needed breakthrough for Mike as Dr. Sotiris taught him how to read and write music.
Mikes' cordial working relationship has seen him working with a host of Artistes, Bands and musicians. He has worked extensively with Jazz/classical Pianist, Ayo Bankole Jnr, Pa Steve Rhodes, Adeniji (Heavy-Wind), Biodun Batik, Ben Okafor, Dejavu, KUSH, Sam Okposo, EMETE, Miatta Fabule, Synergy, Gloria Rhodes, Crystal Classic Vibes, Kunle Odutayo, Maintain, Julius Agu, and Rugged Man, (The list is endless) He has also performed with different Jazz groups within and outside the country. Notable are the Muson Jazz Festival (April 1999), Dubois Jazz Festival, Accra, Ghana (2000). Jazz African Network, Lagos, French Cultural Center, Lagos. (1999-2000), Goethe Institute, Millenium Ball, Lagos. (Dec. 1999). Motherland, Lagos. Mike also performed at the All African Games hosted by Nigeria in 2003
He is also a music producer and has written a lot of songs for different musical purposes. Mike also stages a “one-man” bass solo performance, which stands him out from the crowd.
After a long break from active fine art world, Mike re-discovered his childhood passion for Fine arts. This passion has seen him producing a whole lot of standard paintings and works of art. His clients cut across a wide spectrum.
Mike attends the City of David Parish of RCCG. He works with the Choir as a Bass player. He is currently working on his début album, which is obviously long overdue. He leads a versatile Jazz band called Strokes and Strums . He is a Fine artist and an illustrator. After attending Yaba College of Technology. Lagos in the mid 90s, he is back to The University of Lagos in the Faculty of Arts where he is taking a part-time degree program in Visual Arts. He is also a studio artist. Mike is to play the bass for The Steve Rhodes Orchestra. The group is manages by Uncle Steve.It is the best orchestra in Nigeria and comprises of some of the most proficient musicians in the country.The event is to feature World renowned Jazz guitarist, Jonathan Butler. The event is taking place at the prestigious MUSON center in Lagos Nigeria on the 30th of Oct. 2005.
