Mike Mattison Biography
- Home /
- Mike Mattison /
- Biography
- Born Jan. 1, 1969
Mike Mattison is an American musician and vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning blues rock/soul group, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, as well as lead vocalist and co-founder of the blues rock trio Scrapomatic. Mattison's vocal sound has been described as "strong," with an "expressive blues voice". As lead vocalist of Scrapomatic, he picked up a nomination for Minnesota Music Awards best male vocalist, and both he and co-founder Paul Olsen were also nominated for best R&B Group. Mattison was previously the lead vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning Derek Trucks Band and has been a main songwriter of all three bands. He is also an active essayist who publishes on music and poetry. Since 2013 Mattison and Ernest Suarez have edited “Hot Rocks: Songs and Verse,” an ongoing feature in Five Points: A Journal of Literature and Art. He serves on the Council of the Association of Literary Critics, Scholars, and Writers.
Mattison was born and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before graduation from high school, he'd learned to play the recorder, clarinet, tenor saxophone, french horn, trombone, bass, and guitar, in addition to his ability to sing. He was influenced by jazz, the blues, and roots music. Mattison began exploring songwriting and performing with a friend who had also been raised in Minneapolis, Paul Olsen. The pair met in 1993 at a Parliament-Funkadelic concert, and began playing R&B and blues-based music together afterward. Mattison's education at Harvard University brought him east, and he convinced Olsen to move with him.
Mattison graduated from Harvard with a degree in English and American literature. Mattison and Olsen continued playing and performing together, forming the duo they named Scrapomatic. In 2002, Craig Street and John Snyder, the two record producers who had business ties with blues rock musician Derek Trucks independently suggested Mattison as the person to fill the newly vacated position of lead vocalist for The Derek Trucks Band. Trucks, who was in New York City on business, had seen Mattison's photos and singing demos and was surprised to run into him in the subway. Mattison performed in several concerts of The Derek Trucks Band, following this serendipitous meeting. Shortly afterward, he became a regular member of the band. He continues to maintain his position in Scrapomatic, however, with the duo frequently opening for The Derek Trucks Band.
Return to Mike Mattison Autograph Profile
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Terms of Service · Privacy Policy
© 2026 Real Autograph Collectors Club