Having established a career recording and touring as a keyboardist for Lauryn Hill, Sheila E, Ledisi and Michael Franti, Mike Blankenship melds the sounds of jazz, R+B, hip hop and gospel into a powerful musical journey that transports, evokes and engages. \Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mike has now been performing professionally for 20 years. Known for being an exceptional talent and an accomplished musician, Mike continues to be one of the most sought after musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area. Trained extensively in jazz styles and well versed in many styles such as Gospel, R&B, Afro-Cuban, Funk and Reggae. Mike’s debut album “Living for the Future” explores a tale of love, challenge, fatherhood, community, culture and the pursuit of living a life focused on achieving a better tomorrow.

“He’s a versatile player who can provide a shot of grit or dose of soul into just about any situation.” – Andrew Gilbert (The Mercury News)

“Black-Music has always been a reflection of the experiences around all of us, with a goal to either educate the mind or soothe the soul and Mike Blankenship is here to offer you a healthy mix of both” – Griffin Turnipseed (Souls In Action)