Mike Reilly
2017-05-25
June 30, 1949 – May 26, 2017
Mike Reilly was an original – and he stayed true to his quirky and colorful character until the day he died. An entertainer, Mike lived for music and he delighted his audiences with his charisma and voice as well as his talents on the swing cornet, trumpet, and acoustic and electric guitar. He was a sophisticated person and world traveler. A voracious reader and rare book collector, he was a scintillating conversationalist. A passionate musical educator, Mike had a stunning collection of musical CD’s, from vintage to modern blues, country, jazz, swing and classical.
Mike was born in Chicago, to Bill and Audrey Reilly. He began studying cornet in the 5th grade. In Deerfield, Mike made many lifelong friends who stood by him throughout his times. Many also moved to the Bay Area.
In the 1980’s Mike lived in New England and fronted a band called “Agit Pop”. His Bay Area career was as soloist and as a band member and front man in several bands, including “The Golden Age Jazz Band”. For 31 years he was the core of the “The Spirit of ‘29 Traditional Jazz Band”, playing hot old time jazz. They were often seen on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley and at countless festivals, proms, jam sessions. In 2000 and 2001 they were the house band for the Giants at Pac Bell Park. In 1996, Mike and the Spirit of ‘29 traveled to South Korea for a six month gig at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. In Seoul, Mike met and married Katja Reilly. He moved to her home in Ingolstadt, Germany where he lived for more than a decade. His musical career was at its apex in those years, playing all over Europe in jazz festivals and clubs. A highlight was performing with jazz great Jimmy Witherspoon. Mike returned to the Bay Area in 2007 to play with his longtime ’29 band and musical partner Eliot Kenin.
Mike leaves behind his many friends, ex-wife Katja Reilly and two sisters, Tracy Reilly Kelly (Clancy) and Deirdre Dougherty and three nieces and nephews, Muire Dougherty and Brendan (Christina) Kelly and Liam (Jamie) Kelly. His six grand nephews and nieces, will inherit his musical instrument collection and carry his music through the ages.
(Thank you to Alan Foster for finding this obituary. See Mike's recent photo in Photos > Photos You Submit.)
Mike Reilly was an original – and he stayed true to his quirky and colorful character until the day he died. An entertainer, Mike lived for music and he delighted his audiences with his charisma and voice as well as his talents on the swing cornet, trumpet, and acoustic and electric guitar. He was a sophisticated person and world traveler. A voracious reader and rare book collector, he was a scintillating conversationalist. A passionate musical educator, Mike had a stunning collection of musical CD’s, from vintage to modern blues, country, jazz, swing and classical.
Mike was born in Chicago, to Bill and Audrey Reilly. He began studying cornet in the 5th grade. In Deerfield, Mike made many lifelong friends who stood by him throughout his times. Many also moved to the Bay Area.
In the 1980’s Mike lived in New England and fronted a band called “Agit Pop”. His Bay Area career was as soloist and as a band member and front man in several bands, including “The Golden Age Jazz Band”. For 31 years he was the core of the “The Spirit of ‘29 Traditional Jazz Band”, playing hot old time jazz. They were often seen on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley and at countless festivals, proms, jam sessions. In 2000 and 2001 they were the house band for the Giants at Pac Bell Park. In 1996, Mike and the Spirit of ‘29 traveled to South Korea for a six month gig at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. In Seoul, Mike met and married Katja Reilly. He moved to her home in Ingolstadt, Germany where he lived for more than a decade. His musical career was at its apex in those years, playing all over Europe in jazz festivals and clubs. A highlight was performing with jazz great Jimmy Witherspoon. Mike returned to the Bay Area in 2007 to play with his longtime ’29 band and musical partner Eliot Kenin.
Mike leaves behind his many friends, ex-wife Katja Reilly and two sisters, Tracy Reilly Kelly (Clancy) and Deirdre Dougherty and three nieces and nephews, Muire Dougherty and Brendan (Christina) Kelly and Liam (Jamie) Kelly. His six grand nephews and nieces, will inherit his musical instrument collection and carry his music through the ages.
(Thank you to Alan Foster for finding this obituary. See Mike's recent photo in Photos > Photos You Submit.)
Aww, Michael, like you said, we were 'odd birds'. I never could find a fact that you didn't know. We had some precious time together.
tribute by Pat Schulze