Mick Smiley

Mick Smiley was one of the most talented, and "subverted" artists of the 1980's, mostly because other, more successful artists stole his material and his songwriting style. He was born Mark Cipolla and became one of the best and most talked-about "New-Wave" artists of the 1980's as the leader of The Mick Smiley Band in Hollywood, California. He and his band performed in most of the clubs and larger venues in the Hollywood area at the peak of the 80's hip-hop/punk era. So many songs and acts he originated are now mis-connected to other stars, but Mick Smiley was and is always one of the most wonderful and original artists in the Rock/Punk/songwriter era of the 1980's. Along with his drummer Steve and Guitarist Kurt Kearns, Mick Smiley created a truly original sound, and a fun and sly persona that has never been recreated.