Mike Winkle's Conversation Quartet plays Christo's in Salem
- Mike Winkle - vocal
- Jose Luis Sosa - piano
- Craig Snazelle - bass
- Kurt Deutscher - drums
“Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the ’60s, I was surrounded by an incredible music scene Early influences included The Animals, Beatles, Sam Cooke, then Stevie Wonder, Bobby Caldwell, and many others. My voice has been favorably compared to a host of artists including, Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Caldwell, Sam Cooke, and others. I think folks hear what they want to hear. My original tunes are Jazz(ish) with nods to my influences. You can’t help that! I have recorded songs from artists as varied as Sinatra, The Animals, Coltrane, Bill Henderson, Van Morrison, Beatles to Bill Evans. If it has a great melody and lyric, I’m in! After over 30 years of performing, I think I’ve found my own voice and style that is really just a synthesis of everything that I’ve listened to and loved. Some vocalists are fortunate enough to discover who they are early in their careers and bypass the stage of trying to imitate others. It has taken me a number of years to develop the confidence to present myself as an artist, and not just another ‘band guy’ trying to get over with someone else’s sound.” ~ Mike Winkle
