When Mike Daly puts his attention and focus on something, he’s all in…as in 15 hours a day for 10 years straight, all in, as he did playing drums on his path to record for top bands and labels. Mike’s journey to It’s Pittsfield Tonight was a remarkable and winding road, from the foster system, to times living without a home in Pittsfield and in Florida, to the tumultuous world of being a heavy and death metal drummer. Saying he felt like he was in “survival mode” from the age of 11, Mike found himself in his craft. We explore his work ethic and his rise and setbacks in the music industry, his surprising transition to success in sales, marriage and divorce, and coming back to Pittsfield. We also discuss his complicated relationship with his late father. The two reconciled two decades ago and were very close until his father passed recently. It’s Pittsfield Tonight started out as a variety show and evolved as Mike found that advocating on key issues resonated with many people in the community.
I truly enjoyed my conversation with Mike, and I hope you will, too.