ArtistInfo

Mike & The Censations

Band, *1949
R&B/Soul

Mike James Kirkland was lead singer for Mike & the Censations and would also become known as Bo Kirkland outside of the releases under his own name. Born 1949 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, he became a member of the local gospel act, the Seven Seals, along with his two brothers, Walter and Robert. They later moved to Los Angeles around 1956. In addition to gospel his early influences were jazz singers of the day like Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole etc. Later on he would find much inspiration in the great Sam Cooke. A bet with his brother Robert, that he could cut a record as good as any Motown work, led to his first official release. Starting out in August, MJK gave himself until Christmas to get the job done. In the winter of 1965, Mike & the Censations recorded “Victim of circumstance” and self-released on Robert’s Bryan label. It made the top 50 of the R&B Charts. They also recorded “There is Nothing I Can do About It” which caught the eyes and ears of MCA records, if only for a brief-lasting deal.

Members

Mike James Kirkland