Mike Nock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Nock
Mike Nock in 2012 by Andrew Lorien
Background information
Born	(1940-09-27) 27 September 1940 (age 84) Christchurch, New Zealand
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger
Instruments	Piano, keyboards

Michael Anthony Nock ONZM is a talented jazz pianist from New Zealand. He was born on September 27, 1940. Mike Nock is also a composer and arranger. He has spent much of his life living and working in Australia.

Mike Nock's Life Story

Early Life and Musical Journey

Mike Nock was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up in a town called Ngāruawāhia. He started learning to play the piano when he was 11 years old. By the time he was 18, he was already performing music in Australia.

In Sydney, Australia, he played in a group called The Three Out trio. This group even toured in England. Later, Mike Nock went to a famous music school in the United States called Berklee College of Music. From 1963 to 1965, he was a member of a group led by the musician Yusef Lateef.

Exploring New Sounds

Between 1968 and 1970, Mike Nock led a band called The Fourth Way. This band played "fusion" music, which is a mix of jazz and other styles like rock. After that, from 1975 to 1985, he worked as a studio musician in New York City. Studio musicians play on recordings for many different artists.

Returning to Australia and Recognition

Mike Nock moved back to Australia in 1985. In 1987, his album Open Door, which he made with drummer Frank Gibson, Jr., won the Best Jazz Album award at the New Zealand Music Awards.

In 2003, Mike Nock received a special award called the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award was given to him for his great contributions to jazz music. In 2024, he was honored by being added to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Mike Nock lives in New South Wales, Australia. He taught music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music until 2018. He still performs music with his own trio, a big band, and other groups.

Mike Nock's Music Albums

Mike Nock has released many albums throughout his career. These albums show his journey through different styles of jazz music. Some of his albums include Between or Beyond, Magic Mansions, and Ondas. He has also collaborated with other musicians on albums like The Opal Heart with David Liebman. His music has been released on various record labels over the years.

Awards and Honors

Mike Nock has received many awards for his amazing musical talent.

New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame honors important musicians from New Zealand.

AIR Awards

The AIR Awards celebrate the success of independent music artists in Australia.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are big awards that recognize excellent music in Australia.

Australian Jazz Bell Awards

The Australian Jazz Bell Awards celebrate jazz music in Australia.

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award is a special award given to a senior artist who has made a huge and lasting contribution to music in Australia.

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards were Australian awards that recognized achievements in live entertainment.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards celebrate music from the state of Victoria in Australia.