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Michael Furlong's background in the music business is a very extensive one. He has been an
accomplished performing musician for 25 years. As an entertainer/performer he plays lead and rhythm guitar and is a lead
vocalist. He is front man for three of five shows he performs, and the business owner of MF Productions that manages all
of the shows. During his performing career he has appeared coast to coast in the US and Canada, Japan, Guam, and Hawaii.
Michael Furlong formed his "Petty Theft" show in October 1990, primarily performing in cities on the west coast.
The idea to put a Tom Petty show together originated while he was performing in Vancouver, B.C. The striking visual resemblance
between the two was a constant topic of conversation brought up by many people attending the shows he performed. He decided
to produce the TP show, feeling that the music and the character would be fun to do while increasing audience interest and
attendance. Over the past 12 years he has performed his Petty show in numerous casinos, fairs, and special events coast to
coast.
Word of Michael's Tom Petty show somehow got back to Tom Petty himself. The result was quite interesting. Michael's
show was mentioned by Tom Petty in a "Rolling Stone" article, on the internationally syndicated radio show "Rock
Line" and on "MTV's Top 20 Countdown". When asked about Michael's show in the Rock Line interview, Tom Petty
replied that he would like to see the show or a video of the show if someone would send it to him. Michael sent a copy.
Tom Petty was a bit taken back by the fact that his music career was now reaching such legendary stature that not only were
musicians around the country playing his songs but that his character and songs had now reached impersonator status.
Additionally Michael manages and performs other shows including "Rob Hanna's Salute To Rod Stewart", "Brad
Ford's Fortunate Son" A Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Raised On Radio The Tributes", a review style
show encompassing eight different characters in one show, Mister Jynx; a new top 40 and classic rock and roll format, and
the "Michael Furlong Band", a variety and original music performing band. The shows consist of a cast of four and
up to nine performers.
Michael is a native of Carson City, Nevada. He moved to Hawaii in 1980 to perform, write and record his own music. He
then moved to Sacramento, CA where he was managed by The Bruce Cohn Mgt. Company while signed to Atlantic Records. In 1987
he moved back to Carson City with his wife of now 24 years and two sons, where he began to work the Reno-Tahoe cabaret circuit
as well as fairs and festivals nation wide.
It isn't just the songs and the look that make Furlong's "Tribute To Tom Petty" a success. His talents as an
entertainer are exceptional, making the package complete. Mike's shows are fun, action packed, humorous, and moving. He
instigates and involves his audience, while delivering his own personal touch to each performance. The illusion, the music,
the entertainment, and Furlong as himself make his shows an event.
Furlong, backed by his band, which he considers to be the best line-up of talent he's had to date, has a large catalog
of hit songs and fan favorites that they perform. The band consists of Michael Furlong, guitar/vocals, Glenn Hicks, drums/vocals,
Paul Zogby, guitar/vocals, Tom Robbins, bass guitar/vocals, and Steve Hatley, keyboards/vocals. All of the band members
have quite extensive career credits to their names with a long history of professional national touring, recording and performing
experience. Their extensive repertoire enables them to produce several completely different shows throughout an evening's
performance. With rocking oldies, signature ballads and current hits like "Breakdown", "Free Fallin'",
"Refugee", "American Girl", 'Don't Do Me Like That", "I Need To Know", and "Here Comes
My Girl", he delivers a memorable performance of good music and fun in every show.
Mike is based out of Carson City, Nevada where grew up and started his performing career. While performing on the road
with a group in Vancouver, BC in 1990, he plotted this new course to a successful music career with his Tribute To Tom Petty.
This lead him to performances in venues such as The California State Fair virtually every Reno-Tahoe Casino, most noteworthy
casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, Indian and Riverboat Casinos nationally, Hard Rock Café Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, Hawaii,
Japan, Guam, fairs, festivals, and corporate parties throughout the entire United States, and British Columbia and Nova Scotia,
Canada.
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