Mike Horne Proudly Endorses:
Zildjian Cymbals - SA,
Zildjian Cymbals - SA,
& Yamaha Drums - SA.
Mike Horne has worked very hard to become one of South Africas most In-demand, and Respected, Professional Session Drummers, for live touring and studio recording. His musical career started at the age of 12, playing in church, and local Gospel bands. Mike's father is a Tenor Saxophonist, and at age 13, Mike began touring the country with one of his fathers Gospel groups, as Roadie and occasional dep drummer. Mike was completely self-taught, but after one, life changing lesson, from ex-Capetonian, now New York Drumming Legend ANTON FIG (of The Dave Letterman Show), whilst still in High School, mike was accepted into the prestigious BEAU SOLEIL MUSIC CENTRE, under legendary educator Frank Mallows. After High School, Mike then went on to study a Degree in Jazz performance, at The University Of Cape Towns College Of Music, and very quickly earned himself the drum chair for most of the colleges top ensembles, including the UCT Latin Tentet, and the UCT Jazz Big Band. In his second year of university, Mike also had the honour of being selected for, The South African National Youth Big Band, and became a founding member of the South African National Youth Jazz Band in 2001, and toured with that band for 2 years.
Since leaving university, armed with the tools of being both, a good music reader, and extremely versatile across a very wide array of styles and genres, Mike has toured the country extensively, including all of South Africas biggest music festivals, and shared stages with the likes of Dianne Schuur, Courtney Pine, The Mad Caddies, NoFx, Foreigner, Counting Crows, Collective Soul, Seether, and Metallica. With an Impressive and Increasing discography, Mike is often referred to as one of “South Africa’s most recorded drummers”, having recorded on albums for many of the countries top artists, as well television theme songs, movie scores, and many award winning adverts and commercials for many of South Africa's most popular brand names. Mike is also an experienced, and respected drum clinician, and has performed clinics and workshops at various venues, high schools, colleges, music events and drum festivals, as well as featured on a series of clinic/workshops, along with New York session great DOM FAMULARO. To date, Mike has performed or recorded with many great jazz artists, including, Dr Mike Rossi, The Darryl Andrews Band, Dr Andrew Lilley, Dr Mike Campbell, Alvin Dyers, Mark Fransman, Marcus Wyatt, Melanie Scholtz, Carlo Mombelli, Marc Duby, Judith Sephuma, Barney Rachabane (Paul Simon), as well as South African Jazz Legends, the late BASIL MOSES, and the late WINSTON MANKUNKU NGOZI.
Mike has also been a member of, or worked with: Hog Hoggidy Hog, 7thSon, Albert Frost, Louise Carver, Van Coke Kartel, Koos Kombuis, Kurt Darren, Juanita Duplessis, Watershed, Arno Carstens, aKing, Ard Matthews (Just Jinger), Macstanley (formely flat stanley), The Parlotones, Chris Chameleon, Loyiso Bala, Elvis Blue, CrashCarBurn, Karen Zoid, Tumi and the Volume, Zebra And Giraffe, Locnville, Zolani Mahola (freshleyground), Danny K, as well as SA Pop Idols Heinz Winckler, Andriette Norman, and Lloyd Cele. He has also had the Honour of working with SA music legend Vicky Sampson.
Mike has toured internationally numerous times, to countries including, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, UK, and Slovenija, and has also worked with many great international artists including, Dr Mike Rossi, Ray Blue, Roy Mcurdy, John Thomas, Frederik Noren, Steve Waterman, Gordon Vernick, Berklee professors John Funkhouser, John Baboian & Bob Sinacrope, Bill Prince (The Buddy Rich Big Band), Chris Collins (Phill Collins Big Band), Hein Van Der Guyn (Toots Theilemans), Martin Sjostedt (Chick Corea), Efrain Toro, Bruce Cassidy (Blood Sweat and Tears), Earl Oakin, Esther Miller, Tristan Keyte (Phantom Of The Opera) & COLLECTIVE SOUL.
From swing to bebop, latin-afro-cuban to funk, hip hop to Gospel, R&B to dance, punk-rock to metal... "Mikes rock solid groove, beautiful sensitivity, and incredible stylistic versatility, breathe life into any musical situation, and make him the first choice most of South Africas top Artists and Bands, For live touring, and studio recording!..."
Notable Mention!
In 2012 Mike was once again selected, for the 3rd consecutive year, as the house drummer, to back all of the artists in the 3rd installment of SYMPHONIC ROCKS, previous years haven seen Mike backing many of the top SA acts already listed above, along with a 65 piece Symphony Orchestra! And the 2012 show saw him once again playing for many of those top SA artists, as well as the honour of playing drums for, Grammy Award winning, USA rock legend, Ed Roland from Collective Soul.
