Micki Free Net Worth
American Horror Story has become a cultural phenomenon and its cast has amassed enormous fortunes – from regulars such as Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters to big name stars such as Lady Gaga and Macaulay Culkin.
Micki Free, of mixed Comanche-Cherokee descent, was discovered and encouraged at 17 by KISS frontman Gene Simmons. Subsequently he played guitar for multi-platinum R&B band Shalamar earning numerous Top 20 hits during their tenure.
Early Life and Education
Micki Free, born in West Texas of mixed Comanche and Chickasaw heritage, was discovered at 17 by Gene Simmons (of KISS) and encouraged to join multi-platinum R&B band Shalamar where he became lead guitarist for several Top 20 hits including “Dancing In The Sheets” from Footloose soundtrack and earning them two Grammy awards and five Native American Music awards. Once out of Shalamar he founded Crown of Thorns with Jean Beauvoir of Plasmatics where they recorded two rock albums before moving onward to Crown of Thorns where they recorded two rock albums together before founding Crown of Thorns which recorded two rock albums together as well as performing and recording with artists including Carlos Santana, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, Cheap Trick and Diana Ross among others. These have earned them two Grammy awards and five Native American Music awards respectively.
Professional Career
Micki Free is a Grammy Award winning guitarist, singer and Native American Music Award recipient from West Texas. As an infant he moved with his family to Europe where one of his sisters received tickets for a Jimi Hendrix concert; from there Free formed Smokehouse (at age 17) which Gene Simmons discovered. Encouraged by Simmons he joined multi-platinum R&B group Shalamar (where he had multiple Top 20 hits).
After leaving Shalamar, Free founded and currently tours with the Micki Free Electric Blues Experience featuring Jean Beauvoir of the Plasmatics on vocals; Jon Brant from Cheap Trick on bass; and Curly Smith from Boston on drums – as well as creating the Native Music Rocks program to give young Native American musicians an opportunity to be heard.
Achievement and Honors
Grammy and Native American Music Award recipient Free was discovered at age 17 by Gene Simmons of KISS and quickly began performing with R&B superstar Shalamar for whom he amassed several mega platinum hits.
Crown of Thorns was formed with Jean Beauvoir under Amazing Management (Paul Stanley from KISS and Simmons of Amazing Management). They produced two albums before Free departed to form his own project Gypsy Cowboy which won top honors at the Native American Music Awards 2002. He has collaborated with LA & Babyface, the late Tony Thompson from Chic and former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin among others.
Free is an established performer at blues venues/festivals and Native American casinos throughout North America, but he’s also an Olympia-sized unity celebration at World Culture Festival – an Olympic-scale unity festival in Austria – as well as Hard Rock Calling festival in London.
Personal Life
Micki Free is an award-winning Native American musician hailing from both Comanche and Cherokee bloodlines. At 15, Micki attended her first Jimi Hendrix concert and it profoundly affected her, inspiring her to become an accomplished rock musician herself.
At 17, she was signed onto Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS who encouraged her to join multi-platinum R&B group Shalamar where she achieved Top 20 hits, winning her a Grammy award for Beverly Hills Cop. Additionally she has performed or recorded with Carlos Santana, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Diana Ross, Janet Jackson Little Steven Van Zandt as well as Cheap Trick.
She is mother to Talon Free and daughter from her first marriage to actor and Playboy pinup model Teri Copley; currently, she is engaged to dashing rock musician Christopher Mayer.
Net Worth
Micki Free has been making music professionally since 1984. A member of Shalamar band, he has won various awards and recognition for his efforts as well as appearing in many movies and TV shows. Additionally, Micki has one son named Talon with Britt Free whom he is married.
He boasts a net worth of $2 Million. However, it should be noted that he does not include his primary home equity as part of this calculation so as not to be distracted by the possibility of losing one of his most prized possessions. Instead, his net worth stems primarily from music-related investments.
