Michael "Hot Mike" Buckholtz

In 1982, by the age of 16, Michael was interning at a local television affiliate and became the youngest hired station switcher at WGXA 24, in Macon, Georgia. By 1986, Michael was working as a Top 40 DJ at WPPR Power 102 in Warner Robins, Georgia. In 1989, he joined MC Hammer’s record label, Bust-It Records, distributed by Capitol Records, eventually writing and producing music for Hammer and many label mates. 

In 1990, Michael received a platinum plaque in recognition for his work on the RIAA multi-Diamond rated “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” album (engineered at Paisley Park), selling (today…and counting) more than 50 million units, worldwide. Later, that following year, Michael joined Hammer’s onstage crew, as keyboardist, for the Pepsi sponsored European 1991 Tour, where he spent even more time at Prince’s Paisley Park producing and rehearsing. What followed were appearances on MTV (Video Music Awards), The Grammy’s, The Juno Awards,Oprah, VH1 and many other programs. During the 1991 tour, Michael became one of the producers and composers on the popular multi-platinum “Too Legit To Quit” album, selling more than 5 million units, worldwide. He composed the music for “Gaining Momentum”, used as the ’92 Summer Olympics theme and Evander Holyfield’s ring entrance music. Buckholtz, also, made the cover of the international music periodical Keyboard Magazine, October 1991 issue, and soon after pursued a career as an independent songwriter, producer and sound designer, for all genres of music, through Warner/Chappell.

In 1991, Michael moved to Los Angeles where he started designing music soundtracks for TV drama/mini-series. It was at this time he became a SAG-AFTRA talent. Additionally, he worked for other labels and publishers (Bellmark Records, Wall Street Records, Dollyhood Records to name a few). A single father to a daughter, Michael realized a reinvention of himself was necessary as the advent of the Internet and digital music downloading shifted the business of music’s paradigm permanently. Michael decided to rebuild from scratch. In August 2007, he launched Sunlight International Management, Inc. to set a new bar for himself and 21st century Millennial music talent. He’s already garnered attention and cooperation from brands like Mercedes-Benz USA and Bridgestone. In the same year, Buckholtz founded the 501(c)3 non-profit Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. in an effort to stem the increase of families that become victim to the crushing cost (then, later, debt) of either raising a child on the autism spectrum or living as an autistic person.

In 2008, Michael authored the book, “Autism Is My Universe”, as a way to help the general public peek into the mind of someone autistic. He was invited, by ANCA Consulting, to British Columbia, Canada, to do a book signing. In 2012, Michael received Canada’s INAP “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, along with a Canadian Parliamentary certificate of recognition. In 2016, he is featured in ZOOM Autism Magazine’s ninth issue and acts as their official Ambassador. Michael is, also, acknowledged, in the New York Times Best Seller “NeuroTribes – The Legacy of Autism…”, by author (and good friend) Steve Silberman.

Michael “Hot Mike” Buckholtz continues to work with Warner/Chappell, composing, producing and designing music for TV and film. He’s also a contributing editor for the award winning entertainment periodical, ‘The HypeMagazine’, where his editorials focus on informing up and coming musicians about the business of music via insiders. Three promising projects, through Sunlight International Management, Inc., include the development of a mobile venue networking app for local musicians of all genres, through it’s KIMS (Kitching Internet Management Services) division in Central Florida, a future solar powered full service sound FX audio/post production music recording studio and an apparel company (ADDE ARMY).