This page is dedicated to my buddy of 27 years:                  Mike Garlo

     I met Mike while he was playing with a trio called Custom Blend. They had come to Mobile after playing Las Vegas, and were at a local motel lounge. All and all the group was very good musically. Good tight arrangements and fun to watch. Mike was not the best singer or drummer I had ever heard; but when he got up from the drums and became a front man,  he started doing impressions of Louie Armstrong, John Wayne, Willie Nelson, Tiny Tim, Julio Inglesias, and then Elvis complete with props and costumes. He had the crowd eating out of his hands, telling stories and jokes in between the impressions; and laughing himself. You could tell he was having a ball. I knew then he was an ENTERTAINER.

  The group was taking a 2 month vacation and Mike decided to settle in Mobile.(Custom Blend Broke up shortly thereafter). We became good friends and played in a group together for a while. 

Bruce Stickel from Custom Blend returned to Mobile; So, Mike and Bruce started a new band called Tribute. A cover band making tribute to artists and bands.

Below is their 60's promo.

Top<LtoR> Tony Bowers as Buddy; Bruce Stickel as Bruno; Bottom<LtoR>Dave Wendall as C.D.; and Mike Garlo as The King.

They landed a gig on La Cruise.(the first dinner/gambling boat that came to Biloxi Ms.) They did very well, playing four nights a week and other private partys up and down the gulf coast. 

<LtoR>Mike Garlo: drums, vocals, and harp; Tony Bowers: guitar and vocals; Mike Busby: bass and guitar; Daryl Phillips: sax flute and vocals; and Bruce Stickel: keys and trumpet.

     For the next 3 years we traveled up and down the gulf coast playing many types of  venues. Doing skits and sets that changed every so often. Mike was a joy to be around. Always in a good mood and always a joke. The group was great. The best part, we had fun.

Still doing Elvis: on the left is Lee Fleming, a good friend of Mike(center) and his wife Debra.(on the right). Elvis was Mikes favorite and he had everything. The voice, the moves, the lip, the leg, and the women. 

During the next three years we lost Mike Busby and Bruce Stickel to illnesses and complications during surgery. They will both be missed always.  

 We added Thom Oglesby,(originally from Evansville Ind.) on keys,key bass, guitar, and vocals. Then we added Harolyn Bettis,(from Sunny South, Al.) a great female vocalist. I hope to have a picture of this band as soon as Harolyn finds the only picture I know that is available.

Mike decided after 12 years and a good offer, to go into the insurance business. He played with the group another year and then went into insurance full time. He did very well for 6 years. We of course kept in touch with Mike, Debbie and the kids. 

We did have, (many special requests) to drag Mike out of retirement to  do Elvis and others skits.              

In 2004, Mikes oldest son and his wife had a little girl Aurora Shani Garlo. Mikes first grandchild. Mike was a proud Grandpa. 

About 4 months later Mike was not feeling well. Test after test, and then surgery, the prognosis was not good.   

     Mike called and asked if I would like to be involved in a session to record a song he had co-written friend and Tribute keyboard/guitarist, Thom Oglesby.

      We got part of the old Tribute band together and headed for the studio. Thom Oglesby(on accoustic guitar and key strings), Tony Bowers(on electric guitar) , Myself(on sax) ,Mike(vocal), Debbie, Mikes' sister, her husband, and friends. This was an experience. Laughing ,Crying, trying to get something down, that Mike could give to Aurora. The atmosphere was amazing. 

Two and a half hours later Mike said that's it; we're done.

Click here to see pictures of Mike and Aurora and hear the song. "My Little One"

Click here to just hear the song