Mike Dawson - The Synthphonic Pianist

Mike Dawson’s Mike Dawson’s keyboards are his ticket to other musical galaxies – literally. Dawson is an award winning singer-songwriter, producer, and filmmaker who mixes global influences into a 21st century tour de force. His 2021 Dallas Symphony Orchestra film collaboration “A Song for Ruth '' was the debut project for his New Mexico based production company Dreamers2Makers Films. In 2022 Dawson produced "Annie Benjamin - Night Bird" which is a BTS documentary look at Benjamin's studio recording sessions with producer/drummer Brady Blade.

Dawson, who grew up in Michigan and New Mexico, earned his classical piano performance degree from Eastern New Mexico University. During his college years, Dawson performed Latin jazz-fusion music with acclaimed saxophonist-composer Mitch Paliga. Dawson and Paliga’s band, Sidestep, performed in clubs and living rooms throughout the southwest United States. Dawson and Paliga’s musical partnership gained national recognition in 1985 by winning the prestigious American Collegiate Talent Showcase Bronze Prize. Paliga’s tune Willy & Molly was performed on network TV to a packed house at USC’s Bovard Auditorium with judges Stix Hooper and Ned Beaty giving the approving nod to Paliga and Dawson.

When the US economy took a dive in the late 1980’s and Sidestep disbanded, Dawson returned to academia to earn an applied science in electronics degree. Upon graduation, his electronics work took him to the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore. As the Millennium arrived, Dawson was immersed into the world-wide wireless and internet communications revolution. After an intense decade of work as a engineer, music’s siren song called him back to a more fulfilling creative life.

Dawson has produced nine studio albums released on his DIY label. His latest project Roar Electra - Stranger in a Strange Band, co-helmed with the extraordinary Texas musician/producer Taylor Tatsch, follows efforts with his former rock ‘n’ roll big band Dawson’s New Rage. It must be noted that Mitch Paliga has always been in Dawson’s creative orbit. Paliga has written stellar horn parts and performed outstanding saxophone solos for many pieces on New Rage and Roar Electra albums.

Dawson is a staunch advocate of music education and science literacy. His STEAM advocacy project Assignment Universe works to support education efforts throughout the world. Dawson’s been a music educator his entire professional life and as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, he converted his education business into the virtual education school Mike Dawson Music Education to serve the global community.

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