Mike Belanger

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Mike Belanger
(Drums, Guitar, Lead Vocals)

Ottawa-born drummer for Five Man Electrical Band, Mike Belanger (Bell) displayed an early talent for mimicking artists of the day.
He began singing at age 5 and would often perform for family and close friends. Later, in his early teens, he developed a 'consuming interest' in drumming, nurtured in great part by his brother, Rick. Mike was also a member of his school choir.
Although not a choirboy, and as the 60's were dawning, he found himself yearning to give voice to his own musical expression.

At age 16, he joined a local Ottawa group, The Rhythmics, and began to hone his musical and vocal abilities. He wrote several songs during this period, which the band recorded at the old RCA studios in Montreal, Quebec in 1965. One in particular, "Givin' All My Love", became a popular favourite at Ottawa dance venues when the Rhythmics would play.
He was the lead singer on most of the band's stage material and was also the lead vocalist on their recording sessions.
In that same year Mike was asked by Les Emmerson to sing the falsetto background part on "Move To California", a Beach Boys-flavoured, tongue-in-cheek spoof, but due to a prior commitment he had to decline.

In 1966, Staccato members Brian Rading and Les Emmerson took an even greater interest in him. They recognized his musical and vocal abilities and knew that his presence would add a new and vibrant polyphony and visual impact to the already established and very popular Ottawa-based Staccatos.
Mike's high falsetto voice and naturally clear vocal range would prove to be an added bonus to the Staccatos' new musical direction at that time.
In June of 1966, Mike played his first date as a member of the Staccatos at the Chaudiere Golf and Country Club, just across the river from Ottawa.

In 1969, Mike wrote two songs, "Baby" and "Sunrise To Sunset" which the Staccatos recorded in California for the Capitol label.
Mike has written and recorded numerous commercials and jingles with some of his musician friends and is still an active writer.
He currently lives in Toronto.

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