The Story

Raised in Linden, New Jersey, part of the New York Metro area, bordering Staten Island,  Michael Eric Buckholtz, (also nicknamed ‘Buck‘) officially, got his musical start, at 7 years old. His first instrument (at his father’s insistence on discipline) was the clarinet. Later, he developed a passion for the electric bass guitar. Michael’s mission, then, became to learn many other instruments and become proficient with the piano. In 1975, the indigenous Creek 🏹 family moved south to Macon, GA., the home of Otis Redding and Little Richard, continuing his musical development in the family band.

By 1980, Michael’s music was being heavily influenced by the Minneapolis sound of Prince. He became enamored with Prince’s ability to create music using multiple instruments. This would, later, become the method for how Michael would create, compose and produce music.

In 1982, by age 16, Michael was interning at a local television affiliate and became the youngest hired station switcher at WGXA 24, in Macon, Georgia. He, later, obligated himself to a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, where he was eventually stationed in Air Reconnaissance Squadron VP-47 at Moffett Field Naval Air Base, Mountain View, California. During a 1984 deployment to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, the 18 year old Michael met Stanley (Hammer) Kirk Burrell. This relationship lasts down to today. In April 2020, Hammer even took to Twitter giving  his 3+million followers a brief glimpse into what their life was like, during those military days, tweeting, “We made fire in that barracks and The “Hammer” MC was born.” The true beginning.

Additional deployments were to Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago (a British Indian Ocean Territory).

After Michael’s cold-war tour of duty, in 1986, the newly minted veteran used some of those military lessons learned to boldly fashion a brief stint as a Top 40 DJ at WPPR Power 102, in Warner Robins, Georgia. It was then, during the summer of 1989, that he decided to reconnect with Hammer. Michael packed up all his musical instruments, including personal belongings, (in a 1979 Chevy Monza) and headed across the country toward California. Making that choice rendered Michael homeless (he lived in his car while day laboring to afford the food and gasoline needed) for some time. In late 1989, he joined MC Hammer’s record label, Bust-It Records, distributed by Capitol Records, eventually writing and producing music for Hammer and many label mates.

In mid 1990, finally able to afford shelter and stop living in his car, Michael received a platinum plaque in recognition for his audio engineering work on the RIAA multi-Diamond rated “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” album (engineered at Paisley Park), selling (today…and counting) more than 50 million units, worldwide. Later, that following year, Music Producer Hot Mike joined Hammer’s onstage crew, as keyboardist (and co-Music Director), for the Pepsi sponsored European 1991 Tour, where he spent even more time at Prince’s Paisley Park producing and rehearsing. What followed were appearances on MTV (Video Music Awards), The Grammy’s, The Juno Awards, VH1 and many other programs. During the 1991 tour, Michael became one of the producers and composers on the popular multi-platinum “Too Legit To Quit” album, selling more than 5 million units, worldwide. He composed and performed the “Hype Hip-Hop” banger “Gaining Momentum”, used as the ’92 Summer Olympics theme and Evander Holyfield’s ring entrance music. Music Producer Hot Mike, also, made the cover of the international music periodical Keyboard Magazine, October 1991 issue, and soon after pursued a career as an independent songwriter, producer and sound designer, for all genres of music, through Warner/Chappell, with the help of attorney, Michael Aczon. Michael Aczon is a lawyer, educator and author of the book “The Musician’s Legal Companion”. Every musician, artist or music producer should have this. 

In mid 1991, Music Producer Hot Mike moved to Los Angeles where he started designing music soundtracks for TV drama/mini-series. It was at this time he, apparently, became a SAG-AFTRA talent. Additionally, he worked for other labels and publishers (Bellmark Records, Wall Street Records, Dollyhood Records to name a few). A single father to a daughter, Michael realized a reinvention of himself was necessary as the advent of the Internet, digital music downloading, streaming and digital music distribution shifted the business of music’s paradigm permanently.

Hot Mike decided to rebuild from scratch. In August 2007, he launched Sunlight International Management, Inc. to set a new bar, for himself, in the 21st century business of music. The Sunlight International Management (SIM) company motto is, “Seeing Only Solutions”. He’s already garnered attention and cooperation from brands like Mercedes-Benz USA and Bridgestone.

Officially diagnosed as autistic, Michael decided to author the book, “Autism Is My Universe“, as a way of sharing his personal point of reference living with autism while “Black“. Michael’s understanding of his autistic traits, as well as others, continues to evolve. He was invited, by ANCA Consulting, to British Columbia, Canada, for a book signing, to share his message about recognizing the importance of accepting autistic people. In 2012, Music Producer Hot Mike received Canada’s INAP “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, along with a Canadian Parliamentary certificate of recognition. Michael is acknowledged, in the New York Times Best Seller “NeuroTribes – The Legacy of Autism…”, by author (and good friend) Steve Silberman. He’s, also, recognized in the book “Wired Differently – 30 Neurodivergent People You Should Know”, by Joe Wells, through JKP (Jessica Kingsley Publishing) and the article, “30 Black Autistic People You May Want to Know About”. Currently, Michael is a Member Board of Trustees with YICUNITY.org who’s mission believes individuals with disabilities should have the same right as non-disabled individuals to have access to a full range of available employment opportunities and to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing based on their talents, skills, and interests. This includes access to training and employment services to aid individuals with disabilities in obtaining gainful employment in a field of their interest and choosing. Hot Mike’s focus is on jobs centered in the music industry.

Today, Music Producer Hot Mike is, still, under contract through Warner/Chappell, as a composer, producing and designing music for companies, TV and film.

Never fearful of adapting, all while understanding its value and dynamism, Music Producer Hot Mike continues to courageously push his niche brand platform via every medium allowed through the  Internet of Things. That has meant a focus on how blockchain² and A.I.³ technology can make livelihoods better for independent musicians. Additional ‘Social Proof’ of Michael’s historical music industry impact can also be seen on display in the archives of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Music Producer Hot Mike’s top project, 85/5 Studios, currently in the planning stages, is a full service, high tech, audio/video recording facility with a similar feel of Prince’s Paisley Park Studios. (see Hot Mike’s article about his time at Paisley Park here). He never forgot the feeling working there gave him and is embarking on a studio building project that will provide post audio/video production (film, documentary, television, etc), music production, sound design (sound FX creation), live music production (including orchestral), a rehearsal studio and a stage (stage size not yet determined). Hot Mike’s plan is to recreate the sense of calm; the feeling of home he felt, while creating at Paisley Park, with his own brand of spin on things. There will, also, be a special sensory room (special sound and lighting) dedicated to children (and adults) in the community with sensory issues that affect a great majority of persons on the Autism Spectrum. This is an ‘all hands on deck‘ project and Hot Mike will be working very hard to bring aboard like-minded partners with a vision for excellence in art and community inclusion.

Music Producer Hot Mike has no formal traditional music or theatrical training. Just hard work, determination and endurance.