Michael Spiro is an internationally recognized percussionist, recording artist, and educator, known specifically for his work in the Latin music field. He has performed on hundreds of records, co-produced several instructional videos for Warner Bros. Publications (featuring such renowned artists as David Garibaldi, Changuito, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Ignacio Berroa), and produced seminal recordings in the Latin music genre, including Orquesta Batachanga, Grupo Bata-Ketu, and Grupo Ilu-Aña.

He is a seven time Grammy nominee, whose most recent nomination was in 2011 for his work with Wayne Wallace’s Latin Jazz Quintet. His recording and performing credits include such diverse artists as David Byrne, Dori Caymmi, Changuito, Richard Egues, Frank Emilio Flynn, Ella Fitzgerald, David Garibaldi, Gilberto Gil, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Holman, Toninho Horta, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. John, Mark Levine, Machete Ensemble, Bobby McFerrin, Andy Narell, Ray Obiedo, Chico O’Farrill, Eddie Palmieri, Lazaro Ros, David Rudder, Carlos Santana, Grace Slick, Omar Sosa, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner and Charlie Watts.

Michael is currently a Professor of Music at Indiana University, where over the last four years he has developed the curricula in both the Percussion and Jazz Departments for teaching Latin American music and culture. Previous to this appointment he was a faculty member or artist-in-residence at universities world wide, including the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Massachusetts, University of Missouri, University of Wisconsin, Banff Center of the Arts, the Rotterdam Conservatory, Duke University, University Akron, Lawrence University, California State University at San Diego, University of North Carolina, Winthrop College, and Cornish Institute of the Arts amongst many others.

He continues to conduct clinics and master classes throughout the world as a representative of LP, SABIAN cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads, and DW hardware, and remains active in national and statewide conventions of P.A.S. (The Percussive Arts Society).