Mike Kennedy began playing guitar at the age of eight. By the 7th grade, Mike was working within a group dynamic in bands, playing guitar and bass, and also began exploring composition. Mike's first exposure to Jazz occurred when he heard Johnny Smith's Moonlight in Vermont. He was captivated by the introspective and complex sound, which challenged his own musical development. It was not until high school that Mike took a few jazz lessons and, upon hearing Joe Pass on Virtuoso #2, Mike knew that he had found his medium in jazz guitar.

Mike's formal education in jazz guitar was completed at the University of the Arts, College of Performing Arts, in Philadelphia where he received both his Bachelors Degree in Jazz Guitar and his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies. With the ethic that a firm musical foundation expands his ability to absorb, contemplate and create, Mike studied with, among others, Jimmy Bruno, Larry McKenna, Bob DiNardo, Joe Federico, and Allan Slutsky.

Mike has been teaching guitar for almost 20 years and is currently the Jazz guitar department coordinator at The University of The Arts in center city Philadelphia.

Mike also writes compositions and plays, both locally in Philadelphia, PA and in the surrounding tri-state region. Over the years, Mike has had the opportunity to perform with such renowned Philadelphia jazz musicians as Larry McKenna and John Swana and has also has performed with commercially known international pop artists such as Lou Rawls, Michael Feinstein, Bernadette Peters, and Elton John. Throughout his education and career, Mike has performed and created compositions in various musical genres from Jazz to Rock and R&B.