While Mike Zito was born in St. Louis, MO, he attributes his 20+ years of growing up in the Golden Triangle to his relationship with his wife, Laura, from Nederland, TX, which he considers the most influential part of his life. Up to that point in his life, he felt that he had made many bad decisions, but after meeting Laura, she helped him come to grips with the fact that he was just a person who had made bad decisions.  With Laura's support, Mike got clean and sober on October 28th, 2003. He has not drunk or used since.

Laura helped Mike get his life back together with his children and family. They married in the summer of 2005.  Thanks to her support, he was able to refocus his life and discover his passion for music and performance, which he is recognized for today.  Mike lost Laura to cancer in   

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In the spring of 2022, Mike’s wife, Laura, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.  Mike continued to work to support the family while caring for Laura.  Mike began writing a song for Laura during her illness, “Forever My Love”. He would sing it to her every morning. They had the idea to record a tribute album to his wife at some point. Laura’s cancer never retreated and only got worse and she died on July 31st, 2023, with Mike and their two daughters by her side. This devastation was unreal for Mike and his family.

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He did the only thing he knew how to do; he made good on the promise to pay tribute to his late wife through music.  In September of 2023, Mike recorded the album “Life is Hard” in Hollywood, California. They recorded many classic songs that helped tell the story of Mike’s loss and his love for his wife.  No song on the album has more emotion and feeling of loss than Mike’s original song “Forever My Love”.

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The album "Life is Hard" was released in February 2024 at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Forever My Love was played on Sirius Radio almost every day for the remainder of 2024.

 In May of 2025, "Life is Hard" won the Blues Rock Album of the Year Award,  by the Blues Foundation.

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In January of 2025, Mike invited his friend, actor Bill Murray, to join his Blood Brothers band. Bill Murray and His blood Brothers have performed ten shows to date this year to sold-out crowds and have another 20-plus shows booked in 2025.

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Mike moved back to his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, with his youngest daughter, Josie, to become the executive director of a musical nonprofit called “Broken Rocks”. A recording studio in Wildwood, Mo., where Mike can help young artists record their music and make their dreams come true.

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Accomplishments as of May 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 for DVD of the Year “Royal Southern Brotherhood”

2018 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Artist of the year, His 1st

2021 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Artist of the Year, His 2nd

2021 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album “Rock n Roll - Chuck Berry”

2022 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album “Resurrection”

2024 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album “Blood Brothers”

2024 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Artist of the Year, His 3rd

2025 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album of the Year. Billboard #1 Album “Life is Hard,” Also nominated for 2025 Blues Rock Artist of the Year