Although Mike Zito was born in St. Louis, Missouri, he often says that the twenty-plus years he spent in the Golden Triangle—shaped by his relationship with his wife, Laura, from Nederland, Texas—were the most influential of his life. Before meeting her, he felt defined by a long list of bad decisions. Laura helped him see that he wasn’t a bad person, just someone who needed a second chance. With her support, Mike got clean and sober on October 28, 2003, and has remained so ever since. Laura also encouraged him to rebuild relationships with his children and family, and the couple married in the summer of 2005. With his life back on track, Mike rediscovered his passion for music and performance—the passion that would fuel the rest of his career.

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In the spring of 2022, Laura was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Mike continued touring to support the family while also caring for her at home. During her illness, he began writing a new song, “Forever My Love,” which he sang to her every morning. They talked about recording a tribute album together someday, but Laura’s cancer never retreated and steadily worsened. She passed away on July 31, 2023, with Mike and their two daughters at her side—a loss that devastated the family.

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Honoring the promise he made to her, Mike poured his grief and love into music. In September 2023, he recorded the album Life Is Hard in Hollywood, California, choosing classic songs that told the story of their life together and his heartbreak. The emotional centerpiece of the record was his original song “Forever My Love,” written for Laura during her final months.

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Life Is Hard was released in February 2024 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Charts. “Forever My Love” received near-daily play on Sirius Radio throughout 2024. In May 2025, the album won the Blues Foundation’s Blues Rock Album of the Year Award.

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In January 2025, Mike invited his friend, actor Bill Murray, to join his Blood Brothers band, resulting in a series of nearly sold-out shows and widespread public attention. Around the same time, Mike moved back to his hometown of St. Louis with his youngest daughter, Josie, to become the executive director of a new musical nonprofit, Broken Rocks. Based at a recording studio in Wildwood, Missouri, the project allows Mike to help young artists create, record, and pursue their musical dreams.

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Some of Mike Zito's Accomplishments (as of November 2025)

• 2010 – Blues Music Award, Song of the Year for “Pearl River”

• 2012 – Blues Music Award, Debut with Artist Samantha Fish (Producer)

• 2014 – Blues Music Award, DVD of the Year for Royal Southern Brotherhood

• 2018 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Artist of the Year (1st win)

• 2021 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Artist of the Year (2nd win)

• 2021 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Album of the Year for Rock n Roll – Chuck Berry

• 2022 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Album of the Year for Resurrection

• 2024 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Album of the Year for Blood Brothers

• 2024 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Artist of the Year (3rd win)

• 2025 – Blues Music Award, Blues Rock Album of the Year for Life Is Hard (Billboard #1); also nominated for Blues Rock Artist of the Year