Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Squeak Melusky. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Michael Squeak with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I grew up in the coal regions of northeast Pennsylvania. My grandfather and father worked in coal mines and as a child I recall seeing them coming home from work at night in dirty work clothes, week after week and year after year. They also did work around the house and fixed things as one would have to do things for themselves in those days. My mother and grandmother both worked as well as maintaining the household, cooking and cleaning. My first employers were also good role models in that aspect as I seen a great work ethic firsthand. I saw the benefit of hard work and doing things for yourself. Admittingly, I did not appreciate everything till I became older. But it did stay with me. I recall a plaque on my boss’s desk that said, ” Time expands to fill the work allotted to it.”
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Michael Melusky, however my friends call me Squeak. I will usually tell people I first meet, it’s kind of like Sting (The Police & Solo Artist), just not as cool. If they know who Sting is, I’ll get a laugh. It’s a childhood nickname that has stuck with me.
I’m a professional drummer and perform in the backing band for Nashville recording artist Jenny Grace and Metal/Rock recording artist Aaetheria. I have also worked in Corrections for nearly 20 years.
I first started playing drums as a child following in the footsteps of my father. My first performance was at 12 years old at a school play. My father seeing my interest, started to take me along on his gigs. I would help him set up and sit behind him. I’d watch, listen and learn. He would sometimes get up and have me jump on the drums and I’d play. It was a great education. They were older musicians that played Jazz, Oldies, Ethnic styles and some Rock n Roll. Mostly stuff I hated as a kid, but a foundation was built.
As I got older and out on my own, I played with many bands and musicians. I had a career in a music retail store and was in the heart of my local music scene. I would work constantly performing with whoever I could. I was in my own steady bands but would regularly sub with others. Often, I would perform with multiple bands within a week.
This was certainly a challenge in the relationship dept. Ballancing who you love and what you love to do is. Once I started to travel, balancing music and relationships became increasingly difficult.
After some years of working with successful local club acts doing mostly current rock music of the day. I was recommended to a regional country music act. They were performing at a higher level that was challenging in I needed to completely change my approach as a drummer. I would also be performing material including originals that I had never heard before. I had a few days to learn 10 songs and went to audition. 20 minutes into the audition I was offered the spot. Two weeks later I played my first show at festival for a few thousand people. The band toured regionally, and I had the opportunity to perform with some of country music’s biggest names such as George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Trace Adkins, Glenn Campbell, and Charlie Daniels to name a few. We would also perform at Nashville’s Grand Old Opry.
It was leap I took and change that I embraced that helped me grow as a musician. However, this also connects back to my early days performing with my father’s band and learning the different genres that served me and gave me the skill set I needed to get the job done. I was with this band for nearly 5 years and had the opportunity to record and be part of the opening of a concert venue built my bands leader. Unfortunately, difficulties with running the venue ultimately forced the band to fold, so I found myself back at square one.
Having a wife and kids now, and the music store I worked had shut down, I found myself in a difficult position. Everything in my life has been music. I needed to take care of my family, so I took a job with a direct mail business. I was able to join a popular oldie’s band. They had a very busy schedule doing well paying corporate shows. I was doing what I needed to do, not really what I wanted to. I felt I had gone as far in music as I would and accepted this would be my life. It was a dark time for me, I had also lost both my parents and difficulties in my marriage.
Life as a professional musician certainly has its ups and downs, typically financially. Ater finding myself burned out from working with bands for a paycheck and working on my marriage. I went into the corrections field. This was monumental challenge for me as this was a whole different world. Most people in corrections say they never set out for that. I had to dig really deep as I needed to become in better physical shape. This involved a 3-hour written and physical agility tests. I flunked the physical test at first but months later was given another chance as I had passed the written test. The process took over 6 months until I was offered a position. This time was very stressful because getting this job was life or death for me. I went through the academy for 7 weeks and continued as a musician until I completed it.
I considered myself retired from music. It was the most miserable time in my life. I knew somehow some way I needed to find a way to get back. For now, I had a new life. I had a good job that was challenging in the job itself, but it was also a different environment with personalities. I was a musician at heart. I wasn’t an athlete or former military. I needed to be accepted by my coworkers. If you don’t have a thick skin, it can be a difficult ride. After 5 years I received the officer of the year award. I felt I had at least accomplished the job at hand. But the music was still calling.
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I found my way back. The challenge now, was a to be able to do both on my work schedule. I wasn’t at that time able to perform every week. I first started to do fill in gigs, then eventually a band with a small schedule. As time went on and as I gained time at my job, I was able to get time off from work to be able to pursue this. I was able to do this through working double shifts to gain time or to cover for someone who would work for me. Juggling this became a full-time job in itself. But it was the only way I could do music. I found myself back in the game. I took a spot at my job that gave me weekends, I had great vacation time and could get time off with my system. I found myself working with multiple bands weekly as a full-time member and gun for hire fill in. My system was working for me, I was getting the opportunity to perform as much as I could and still work 60–70-hour weeks at my day job. During that time, I had the chance to perform for a young up and coming female country artist. I had done original country music in the past and was looking for the chance to do it again. I learned her songs and did a concert as an opening act for grammy nominated Hunter Hayes. I filled in with her band a number of times when her regular was unavailable. This lit a spark for me. I knew at that point that I wasn’t satisfied playing the circuit I was in. It was a huge comfort zone. Steady work and money. Familiar music, venues and crowds. Most musicians would do anything to do what I was doing. I knew that I was blessed to be where I was. But I wanted more, I wanted to challenge myself to see how far I could take it. Then……..
The pandemic hit. Everything shut down. I was fortunate to have a regular job during this. Working in corrections, we were essential, so we went to work. Many of my full-time musician friends struggled. During this time, I realized I didn’t need to play in the circuit I was in, that I would survive if I pursued this for the art and do original music. I had gone as far as I could playing in cover bands. There was nowhere to go, and I knew I needed to try.
I first started to work on my skill set. I sought out online drum instruction. I eventually started a 6-month class with Styx drummer Todd Sucherman, even taking a few one-on-one Zoom lessons. I also studied from Daniel Glass, New York session/educator and others. I built a studio in my house for rehearsal, recording and lessons.
When everything came back, I had embraced working on my skill set, self-improvement and the desire to learn. I attended in person Master Classes with Todd and flew to Nashville for private lessons with Jason Aldean Drummer Rich Redmond. I went right back to work with my current bands however, I knew I wanted to perform with an original Country artist. To do this, I worked on being a better drummer, but I also learned what I had to do to make myself employable, what I had to do that was more than what I would do on stage. How to be professional in a fast moving sometimes stressful situation. I had to be ready, confident and willing to take a leap, take a chance.
Enter Jenny Grace. I connected with Jenny through a Craigs List add. I never really took those opportunities too seriously, but something told me to answer. Later that night I spoke with her and two weeks later I traveled from Pennsylvania to Connecticut to play my first show with her. Since then, we have toured in California, played alongside the Zac Brown Band and Cole Swindell. Mutiple shows in Nashville including Whisky Jam. We have traveled to North Caroliana, the Jersey Shore, NYC, Boston, New Hampshire and Ohio. We are scheduling shows for 2025 in Texas and Oklahoma. My goal was to tour and record with an original artist. I have recorded with Jenny on her song The True Spirit of Christmas in 2023 and recently on a soon to be released song, I’m very excited to work with her at this level. I’m also performing an original metal band Aaetheria. We will be touring in Europe, South America and the US in 2025.
I set goals and challenges for myself. I didn’t let obstacles, perceptions or nay sayers discourage me. I sought out people who shared my vision and who believed in me. I wanted to take the risk, and I wanted to work with people who trusted me. That has been the most gratifying for me to have someone trust me with their passion, work and art and to help bring it to life.
One common theme with my instructors and mentors, “Those who made it, never gave up” Just never give up. I’ve had many setbacks and disappointments. I’ve had to reinvent myself, learn new skills and not back down from challenges. I was never interested in fame. I just want to be able to do what I love. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. I’m on one hell of trip.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Organzaional skills helped me manage the time and multiple jobs and bands I worked with. I was able to effectively maintain my schedule with my steady bands and job. Yet I was still able take on additional responsibilities, work and get the job done making me the first call with many acts.
Discipline in maintaining a practice and learning routine. This helped me find the best way to prepare for each opportunity quickly and efficiently. With sometimes having only a few days’ notice or having to work on material as I was working on other projects, this skill set served me well. I was always prepared and on time.
Integrity. Honoring commitments and prioritizing. To not cancel out on one for another goes a long way. Reputation is everything in the music industry as well as corrections. People depend on you. Once you let them down, it’s over.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Todd Sucherman, long time Styx drummer and educator has been most impactful on my journey. His mentoring, positive and motivational teaching has helped me overcome some physical and personal obstacles. His online course through Drumeo I still refer back to and in person masterclasses have certainly improved my technique. I was able to correct some mistakes and make changes that will allow me to have much longer career than I would have. He helped me realize that by simply slowing down and working things out, I will eventually get it. Just to keep at it and not give up. We are in control of what we do by putting the work in.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @squeakmelusky
- Facebook: Squeak on Drums Music Page
- Youtube: youtube.com/@JennyGraceOfficial
- Other: jennygracemusic.com
Image Credits
Kent Miller Aaron Mauer Paul Smith
