about Mike

Michael Keates - singer, songwriter, guitar player virtuoso has launched the KEATES band, a country band stacked with some of the nation's best players - and it ROCKS! The KEATES country sound is a versatile mix; from heavy guitar and piano pounding beats to melodic county ballads with smooth, silky vocals and harmonies. 

Playing the guitar since he was a boy, Mike was born in Kingston, Ontario into a musical family; his late father Tom was a renowned steel guitar player and his mother Barbara a singer.  Mike is an accomplished musician, well known for his extraordinary picking style and versatility in mastering a number of instruments: electric, acoustic and steel guitar, mandolin and dobro. 

Mike started touring right out of High School and was a member of Northern Run in the late 80s. Since then, he has performed with and/or played as a session player for many famous Country Music acts such as: Beverly Mahood, Lisa Brokop, Prescott Brown, Jason McCoy and Thomas Wade.