Born Francis Xavier Wanchic in Lodi, Kentucky.  After graduating from junior high, Mike dropped out of school to study under Barnaby Schneider, who taught Tiny Tim, Mike’s hero.   After realizing he would never attain Tiny’s stature (both literally and figuratively, a despondent Mike took to the night club circuit, where he managed to make a living lip-syncing his favorite hits by Pat Boone, Wayne Newton, and of course, the Captain and Tennile (music giants according to Mike).  It was in one of these clubs that a kind-hearted musician saw Mike and took him in, letting him play air guitar in his band.  That musician was John Mellencamp   “You ‘ uns is so nice!!!”, Mike often says to John, as a gesture of his thanks for saving him from a life of almost certain failure. Farm Aid 2001 - Indianapolis, Indiana Click Here to view Mike’s other photos Echo Park Mike’s Studio Click Here Mike’s Official Web Site News Articles :   * News from 2002 Tour   * Mike Wanchic Defies Death in Studio   * Mike’s Studio Credits © 2000 - 2004 Mellencampband.com.    Publication and Kevin  Plummer. Copyrights for all materials on this web site are held by the  individual authors, artists, photographers or creators. Materials may not be  reproduced or otherwise distributed without permission of Mellencampband.com and the  content's original author.