Like many people of his generation, Michael Liss can still remember that special
Sunday night in February of 1964 - sitting on the floor of his living room, surrounded
by his family, he stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at The Beatles, performing for
the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show. "That's what I want to do with my life!"
Michael proclaimed, pointing to the TV screen. Everyone in the room laughed, of
course, but that turned out to be the very experience that was to launch a career in
music for the then 11-year old boy from St. Louis.
Michael started taking piano lessons at the tender age of 8. "I loved playing the
keyboard, but hated all the practice that was required," he stated. Like countless other
mothers, Michael's mom used to say, "You'll thank me for this one day!"
"No I won't!" he always responded. Yet, he has thanked her many times.
After seeing the Beatles, Michael's interest turned to the guitar. He received his first
guitar, a gift from his grandfather, at the age of thirteen,. Then one day while
browsing through the electric guitars on display at a local music store, his eyes
alighted on a strangely 'different' type of guitar, one unlike any he had ever seen.
Michael quickly brought a salesman over and pointed to the odd looking guitar. "What
is it?" he asked. Michael didn't get his new found wonder - a bass guitar - right away.
He took his first job, busing tables at his uncle's restaurant, and saved the money to
eventually buy "the instrument of his dreams."
Soon after, Michael and four of his school friends formed their first band, 'The
Second Elevation'. "We played at all of our school dances and events for the next
couple of years, as well as many of our friends' parties," he reflected. When the band
eventually broke up, Michael continued to play in other local bands, working hard to
improve his skills on both bass and guitar.
In the 1970’s, after spending a couple of years "on the road discovering America,"
Michael settled ‘back home’ in St. Louis. In addition to leading his own Jazz combos
and Country bands through the years, Michael has been fortunate to play with many of
the top artists in and around the St. Louis area. He ultimately joined Crossover as their
bass guitarist in 2006. “It was truly a blessing to be asked to join Crossover,”
Michael said. “The quality of both the people and the music makes it one of the best
bands I’ve ever been a part of!”
Michael is active at his church as an instrumentalist on the music team. He also sings
and performs his own original Christian compositions at various churches in the St.
Louis area.
Michael met his wife Suzie at their church, where they were married in 1983. They
have one daughter, Amy.
Instruments:
Favorite Artists:
Sunday night in February of 1964 - sitting on the floor of his living room, surrounded
by his family, he stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at The Beatles, performing for
the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show. "That's what I want to do with my life!"
Michael proclaimed, pointing to the TV screen. Everyone in the room laughed, of
course, but that turned out to be the very experience that was to launch a career in
music for the then 11-year old boy from St. Louis.
Michael started taking piano lessons at the tender age of 8. "I loved playing the
keyboard, but hated all the practice that was required," he stated. Like countless other
mothers, Michael's mom used to say, "You'll thank me for this one day!"
"No I won't!" he always responded. Yet, he has thanked her many times.
After seeing the Beatles, Michael's interest turned to the guitar. He received his first
guitar, a gift from his grandfather, at the age of thirteen,. Then one day while
browsing through the electric guitars on display at a local music store, his eyes
alighted on a strangely 'different' type of guitar, one unlike any he had ever seen.
Michael quickly brought a salesman over and pointed to the odd looking guitar. "What
is it?" he asked. Michael didn't get his new found wonder - a bass guitar - right away.
He took his first job, busing tables at his uncle's restaurant, and saved the money to
eventually buy "the instrument of his dreams."
Soon after, Michael and four of his school friends formed their first band, 'The
Second Elevation'. "We played at all of our school dances and events for the next
couple of years, as well as many of our friends' parties," he reflected. When the band
eventually broke up, Michael continued to play in other local bands, working hard to
improve his skills on both bass and guitar.
In the 1970’s, after spending a couple of years "on the road discovering America,"
Michael settled ‘back home’ in St. Louis. In addition to leading his own Jazz combos
and Country bands through the years, Michael has been fortunate to play with many of
the top artists in and around the St. Louis area. He ultimately joined Crossover as their
bass guitarist in 2006. “It was truly a blessing to be asked to join Crossover,”
Michael said. “The quality of both the people and the music makes it one of the best
bands I’ve ever been a part of!”
Michael is active at his church as an instrumentalist on the music team. He also sings
and performs his own original Christian compositions at various churches in the St.
Louis area.
Michael met his wife Suzie at their church, where they were married in 1983. They
have one daughter, Amy.
Instruments:
Favorite Artists:
| Bass Guitar |
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