Mike Carroll Singer, songwriter Raised on a musical diet of early ‘70’s soul, classic crooners and West Coast jazz-funk grooves, it’s no surprise that 40-something Mike Carroll’s milk-and-honey voice glides so silkily over the soaring melodies and funky rhythms of his self-penned songs of recent years. Born in 1959 in Islington, growing up in Bucks market-town Aylesbury, Mike assailed the local music scene when the charts buzzed with the likes of David Essex and Steve Harley, these popsters influencing his novice phase in popular beat-combo ‘As It Is’, who got to represent South East England at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool as part of The Boys Club All-England Talent Show in 1975. Moving on to more sophisticated writers like James Taylor and (of course) The Dan, Mike progressed into bigger and better local outfits such as Cruise, a jazz-funk ensemble who were to be recorded by industry luminary Muff Winwood and supported David Ess...