Alabama Mike

About the Artist

Alabama Mike, born Michael Benjamin in Talladega, Alabama, channels the deep traditions of
gospel and Southern soul into a blues voice that is equal parts raw, refined, and utterly
unforgettable. Influenced early by his father, a gifted quartet tenor singer, Mike developed a
vocal style rooted in the gospel church—powerful, emotional, and steeped in truth. Now based in
Oakland, California, he tours internationally with his band The Revelators, captivating audiences
with a sound that blends blues, soul, funk, and grit.
Alabama Mike’s rise in the modern blues world has been both swift and well-earned. His recent
album, Stuff I’ve Been Through (Little Village Foundation), is a deeply personal collection that
has earned him a 2024 Blues Foundation nomination for Soul Blues Album of the Year,
complementing his consecutive nominations for Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year in 2024 and
2025. In 2023, he was honored with the Muddy Waters Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jus’
Blues Music Awards Foundation—testament to the impact he’s made in a relatively short time.
Drawing from influences like ZZ Hill, Johnnie Taylor, Junior Wells, and Jimmy McCracklin,
Alabama Mike carries the torch for traditional blues while injecting it with fresh, contemporary
urgency. His backing band—Ronnie Smith (drums), Bobby Young (guitar), Lorenzo Hawkins
(keys), and AJ Joyce (bass)—features some of the Bay Area’s most respected musicians, all with
deep roots in gospel, funk, soul, and blues. Together, they create a sound that’s both timeless and
current, spiritual and streetwise—a testament to the “stuff he’s been through,” and the soul he
continues to pour into every note.