Mike Massanelli is from Jonesboro Arkansas.  He grew up around the Mom and Pop business of Massanelli Cleaners and Laundry that they started in 1947.  He started playing trombone in the Eight  grade and was blessed with his first of many great teachers, a young Ronald Foster, who later spent his career in The Marine Band in Washington DC. 

 

Mike attended ASU in the fall of 1971 where he met his next great teacher, Wally Fowler, who was a graduate assistant.  After Wally’s direction came Dr. Neale Bartee.  Mike played in the ASU symphonic band, the Wind Ensemble, the Tribe, ASU’s Jazz Band.  Mike toured and played on the road with the Jazz/Rock ensemble, The 1932 Rhythm and Blues Band. He graduated from ASU in the late seventies with a degree in music and accounting.

​

Also in the seventies and eighties, he played in The Jonesboro Jazz Society a professional group that featured guest artists Bill Watrous, Jim Pugh, Lou Marini, Louis Bellson, Mel Torme, Maynard Ferguson and more.  Mike went to work full time at Massanelli Cleaners in 1980 and spent his career there until retiring in 2017. 

 

He, and his lovely wife, Helen, hope to travel and play with Jubilation Jazz for many years to come.