Michael Hicks began his musical training at the age of four, when he started playing cello studying the Suzuki method. He became highly skilled on the cello, sitting first chair at all-county orchestras, as well as scoring highly at solo competitions, and continued studying cello until the age of 14, when he gave up his classical training in favor of the electric bass.

Mostly self-taught, Michael learned his first bass lines from listening to music that was current at the time; The Police, Billy Joel, and Steely Dan are among his first memories as a budding bassist.

Later, while studying at St. Lawrence University, he gravitated towards jazz. He played bass in the university jazz band led by drummer Danny Coots, and also began studying improvisation at nearby Potsdam College’s Crane School of Music. There he took classes with renowned trombonist and composer Brett Zvacek, who also requested that Michael play with the Potsdam big band.

After graduating St. Lawrence with a major in English literature and a minor in music, Michael moved to Japan for a year, where he taught English and played with local musicians in Tokyo.

Returning to the U.S.,he entered Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, and earned a diploma in jazz bass performance. At Berklee, he studied with Bruce Gertz, Paul Del Nero, John Lockwood, Oscar Stagnaro, and Hal Crook. He played with several Boston-based groups, and regularly played at several clubs such as Wally’s and The Good Life, and at various restaurants and hotels, as well as on the Boston harbor cruise boat The Odyssey.

After graduating from Berklee, Michael went on to earn a Master’s degree in performance from New England Conservatory, which he also attended on a full scholarship. There he continued to study with John Lockwood, and also studied with Jerry Bergonzi and Cecil McBee. He also played in the NEC big band for two years, and took ensemble classes with George Garzone and Jerry Bergonzi, as well as studied composition from Frank Carlberg.

After graduation Michael continued to be based in Boston, where he worked as a freelance bassist, teacher, and band leader. He played with many of Boston's top players at venues in the area, as well as with a 12-piece dance/party band that backed up several performers from Las Vegas, and performed at several locations in the east coast. Aside from teaching privately, Michael was the main bass instructor at Robinson's music in Westborough, MA, and taught K-8 music at a private school in South Boston. As a bandleader Michael was responsible for leading groups on a cruise ship in the Boston Harbor 6 nights a week, and led a trio at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf for 3 years.

Performing credits include: Benny Golson, Eartha Kitt, Lewis Nash, Michael Abene, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Ron Horton, and George Russell. 

Musical Theater performances include: West Side Story, Five Guys Named Moe, Bye Bye Birdie, Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum, Godspell, and several others.

Additional instructors include: Jeff Campbell, Deborah Dunham, Marshall Wood, George Russell, John LaPorta, Lin Biviano, and Don Palma.  He has also played double bass in orchestras including the University of Rochester Community Orchestra (principal), and the New England Philharmonic.

Currently Michael resides in Shanghai, China.