Mike Nagoda

Location: Toronto, ONT

Challenge: Cerebral Palsy

Website: www.mikenagoda.com

Mike Nagoda is a queer and disabled blues and roots musician and independent recording artist based in Toronto. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Mike struggled to play guitar in the conventional manner until he discovered legendary Toronto Bluesman Brian Cober, who invented the art of double slide guitar in 1971. Nagoda eventually approached Brian to teach him this technique and Mr. Cober became Mike's close friend and mentor until his passing in 2016.

Nagoda is now proudly carrying on Mr. Cober's legacy to a new generation with the double slide guitar with his newest independent release, Outside The Box, and is currently working on his third album, Conspiracy! A Satire of Machinations, Tall Tales and the Slightly Lacquered Truth, with his long time band mate and co-producer Jeremy Ronson and veteran engineer Caleb Hyde. Mike is the winner of the 2020 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search, as well as receiving an Honourable Mention for the 2019 Amy Louie Grossman's Music Scholarship.

Mike now brings his brand of soulful, progressive queer blues and roots music to the Canadian and International scene, taking double slide guitar into the next fifty years and beyond, all while telling stories that so many have wanted to hear for so long, and now finally can.

Photo: Bill King

Mike Nagoda