Mike Marra. Bass Guitar, String Bass, Vocals, Arranger, Writer.

 

 

I am a third generation professional musician. My father was a professional trumpet player, and my grandfather was a professional drummer. I have played Bass Guitar and Double Bass for over 40 years. I was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall OF Fame (rhodeislandmusichalloffame.com) in 2013.

 

I have played with Steve Smith and The Nakeds (thenakeds.com) for over 20 years.

We played with Clarence Clemons throughout the 1990's and 2000's when Springsteen went solo and was with him, when he wasn't touring with Bruce, until his untimely passing in June of 2011. The Nakeds also performed with Gary US Bonds (This Little Girl, New Orleans) during this period.

 

I am also performing with The New Providence Big Band, as well as performing and recording with singer/songwriter Jennifer Minuto.

 

2016 is off to a great start! Incredible New Years Eve with Steve Smith and The Nakeds.

 Just finished a tour with Markey Blue out of Nashville! Go to their FB page for pics and video!

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2015 -16 brought the opportunity to record with Lauren King, a young, up and coming singer songwriter from Rhode Island.

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I Have also worked this year with Boston's Michelle Wilson, Willie J Laws and Roberto Morbioli from Verona, Italy

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December 2014 and November 2015 brought the distinct honor of performing with Johnny Hiland and Tim McDonald ( um...They let me sit in!) in Nashville.

 

The Summer 0f 2014 has been a busy one which has included providing the low notes for John Cafferty (Beaver Brown Band), Skip Martin (Kool & the Gang, Dazz Band) and Southside Johnny.

 

Summer 2013 - 2015 I wrote the arrangements and played bass with Skip Martin of Kool and The Gang.

 

Summer of 2011 thru 2015 included appearances with Nate Evans' Temptations, on which I wrote the 10 piece, 5 horn show arrangements.

 

I also played with Nils Lofgren occasionally throughout the '90's.

 

Summer '10 I performed at The Clarence Clemons Classic in Hollywood Florida. This show featured, and I played with Clarence, Steve VanZant, Max Weinberg, Daryl "DMC" McDaniel (Run DMC), Nico McBrain (Iron Maiden), and Narada Michael Walden. I also played with'80's singers Mike Reno of Loverboy (Working For The Weekend, Turn Me Loose), Larry Hoppin of Orleans (Still The One, Love Takes Time), John Cafferty (CITY, Tender Years) and Jimmie Jamison of Survivor (Eye Of The Tiger).

 

For you oldie R&R afficionados, I have worked with Little Anthony And The Imperials (Tears On My Pillow), and The Coasters (Yackety Yack, Charlie Brown).

 

As a member of the house band for the 1990's Fox TV series "The Dana Valery Show" I had the pleasure of backing the late Las Vegas Star Clint Holmes, Native American singer Joanne Shenendoah, and Davey Jones of the Monkees!

 

And now for something completely different... I played at President George H.W. Bush's Inaugural Ball with The Drew Corcoran Orchestra!

 

I have worked in local RI bands Steve Anthony and Night Flight, Urban Renewal, and The Chili Brothers among many more. 

 

I earned my Bachelor of Science, Music Education Degree in 2006. I formerly taught music at Shea High School in Pawtucket, RI. I have studied Bass with Bob Petteruti, the dean of RI Bass players, as well as Elliot Porter, Bassist with the RI Philharmonic, and world renown Oscar Stagnaro at Berklee College of Music.

I have no intention of stopping.