He began performing at Disneyland's
Tomorrowland Terrace on July 4, 1976, on a 6-week contract. Michael continued performing at several Tomorrowland venues at Disneyland and later at Walt Disney World at the Magic Kingdom as well as the 1982 opening of Communicore at Epcot, performing an original composition entitled "The 21st Century Begins". He also performed at NAMM shows in the late 1970s, opened for acts such as Kool and the Gang, and composed for the television series Wild America. in the early 1980s. Michael also appeared on
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Michael's programs featured arrangements of classical pieces and movie music, including a "
Baroque Hoedown", sci-fi oriented movie themes from "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and familiar classical tunes like the "William Tell Overture". Playlists also included showtunes such as Fiddler on the Roof and popular songs such as
the Moody Blues' "
Nights in White Satin" and John Lennon's "Imagine". "Fanfare," which he sang at many of his shows. "Fanfare" was written from music Michael played informally. It was arranged and the lyrics were written by
Robb Royer (of the band "Bread"), a good friend of Michael's. According to Michael, the words were originally written about Rob's baby daughter Jesse. Later, Michael would introduce the song as "Fanfare for Wendy," referencing his own daughter. Audiences could see him play his multiple keyboards via overhead mirrors. The "machine" was enclosed in a pyramid, based on the cover of
Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, After leaving Disney, Michael played the Iceberg Machine through the 1990s at corporate engagements for IBM and occasional shows at colleges and air shows. He explained in a 2013 interview that he had stopped performing because
pulmonary hypertension had left him without the stamina needed to perform, especially in moving equipment. Components of his "Iceberg Machine" were sold off when the friend who had helped build and maintain moved on to a new job. == Discography ==