Biography

"If you can live without the necessities, you can afford the luxuries!"


This is the motto songwriter/artist Mike Schikora has been living by for years now. Since then he has ridden his horse twice over the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, started a Half Arabian Sporthorse breeding business, founded and owns his own indie record label Front Range Records, and continues to write new songs for his own Publishing Company Tuck And Go Music.

Mike Schikora has come a long way since he first arrived in Nashville in 1987 where shortly after interning at RCA Records he landed a publishing deal as a staff songwriter. Fine tuning his writing paired with his powerful, unique high lonesome tenor Mike received a lot of attention during those 7 years spent in Nashville. Playing at all the clubs and getting passed on by all the major record labels didn't discourage his ambition. It made him stronger and more driven! Mike was ready to keep at it until a well known industry friend who he respected highly advised Mike he felt his songs were getting 'to Nashville' and some time spent off Music Row may do him some good. A hard decision, yet one Mike respected and honored.

A move to the Rocky mountains of Colorado proved to be exactly what Mike needed. Getting back to the mountains was reminiscent of Mike's youth growing up in the northwest logging town of Libby, Montana. Here Mike found inspiration to begin writing again!

Mike produced and self penned songs for his critically acclaimed debut CD released in 2008 titled WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN. Ventured outside of country in 2009 to co-produce a rocking blues CD titled ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS with friend and Colorado blues artist Becky Martinek. Then early 2010 Mike released his follow up sophmore CD to great reviews titled THIS COWBOYS IN LOVE.

After a Nashville artist showcase in April 2011, Mike was approached by Michael Bonagura and Kathie Baillie of the hit country vocal group Baillie & The Boys, to record and produce his 3rd CD at their studio in Franklin, TN, just south of Nashville. An interesting side note. When Mike was an intern at RCA Records, Baillie & The Boys were on RCA at the time! Mike is blown away to be working with this level of accomplished and creative artists! The much anticipated CD titled HORSES & GUITARS will be released July 2012.

Between his two passions, music and horses, keeping up with Mike these days is a fun challenge. His music seems to be dictating where he lands. Currently living in northern TX, Mike is "living the dream" riding and writing in between trips to Nashville and performing on the road. With what he is doing so far, the Colorado Cowboy and his HORSES & GUITARS seems well on his way!