{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1966)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mike Viola | image = Mike Viola.jpg | caption = Viola at a thrift store | birth_name = Michael Anthony Viola | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|09|26}} | birth_place = Stoughton, Massachusetts, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donelson |first=Marcy |title=Mike Viola |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/mike-viola/876017 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |publisher=Apple Music}}</ref> | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano|bass}} | genre = {{hlist|Rock|alternative rock|pop|folk}} | occupation = {{hlist|Songwriter|producer|musician|singer}} | years_active = 1985–present | website = {{URL|mikeviola.com}} | current_member_of = Candy Butchers | past_member_of = The Shining | background = person }}
'''Michael Anthony Viola''' (born September 26, 1966) is an American producer, musician, songwriter, and singer, best known for his work with Dawes, Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, J.S. Ondara, Mandy Moore, and Jenny Lewis. <ref name="tapeop">{{cite web|url=https://artsfuse.org/301236/musician-interview-taylor-goldsmith-of-dawes-on-the-making-of-oh-brother/|work=Tape Op|title=Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on the Making of “Oh Brother”|access-date=April 3, 2026|author1=Duguay, Robert|date=Nov 18, 2014}}</ref><ref name="diffuser">{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/mike-viola-ryan-adams-pax-am-interview/|title=Mike Viola on Working With Ryan Adams: 'It's Paid Off for Both of Us in Artistic Ways'|work=Diffuser.fm|author=Armstrong, Chuck|date=May 4, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="pitchfork1">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/55242-jenny-lewis-works-with-beck-ryan-adams-on-new-album-the-voyager-reveals-release-details/|work=Pitchfork|title=Jenny Lewis Works With Beck, Ryan Adams on New Album The Voyager, Reveals Release Details|access-date=July 6, 2016|author1=Gordon, Jeremy |author2=Pelly, Jenn|date=May 19, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="stereogum">{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1797095/mike-viola-stairway-to-paradise-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/|title=Mike Viola – "Stairway To Paradise" (Stereogum Premiere)|work=Stereogum|author=Helman, Peter|date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as ''That Thing You Do!'', ''Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story'', and ''Get Him to the Greek''.
As a teenager in the early 1980s, Viola played Boston-area clubs with his band, the Bottom Line, and was billed as "Boston's youngest musical talent." His parents, Charlene and Larry Viola, bought his equipment and allowed their basement to be turned into a rehearsal room.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Millman |first1=Joyce |title=Teen dream |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-08-03_11_31/page/n63/mode/1up |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=August 3, 1982}}</ref>
Viola got his major professional start in the mid-1990s as the musical architect for New York–based band Candy Butchers, releasing three critically acclaimed albums with RPM/Sony Records before focusing on music production.<ref name="guitarworld">{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/songcraft-mike-viola-talks-songwriting-triage-movie-music-and-arcade-backlines|work=GuitarWorld.com|title=Songcraft: Mike Viola Talks Songwriting Triage, Movie Music and Arcade Backlines|author=Bacino, Mark|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref>
== Soundtrack work == Viola, along with friend Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, co-produced the title track for Tom Hanks's 1996 movie ''That Thing You Do!'' The selection received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Viola sang lead on the track, and as the accepted singing voice of Johnathon Schaech's character, Jimmy, also sang on other tracks in the film, such as "Little Wild One" and "All My Only Dreams."
For the 2007 Jake Kasdan/Judd Apatow film, ''Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,'' Viola wrote or co-wrote "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Darling", "(I Hate You) Big Daddy", "Dear Mr. President", "Beautiful Ride", "Sir Ringe The Marshmallow Elephant", and "Let Me Hold You Little Man". Viola served as musical director on a promotional tour for the film in December 2007, with John C. Reilly acting out his fictional character of Dewey Cox.
Viola also contributed songwriting for Russell Brand's character Aldous Snow in the 2010 film ''Get Him to the Greek'', including "African Child", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "Searching For a Father in America", "Little Bird", "Furry Walls". In 2012, he played the character of Franky in two promotional songs for the video game ''Club Penguin'', "Anchors Aweigh" and "Ghosts Just Wanna Dance".<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Lewis |first=Michelle |user=mlewey |number=905300547208654849 |date=6 September 2017 |title=I think my favorite one we've written is Anchors Aweigh. My friend Mike Viola's voice sounds amazing on it.}}</ref>
== As songwriter, musician or producer ==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Artist ! Label ! Song ! Album ! Role |- |2026 |Noam Weinstein | |All songs |''Male Model'' |Co-Producer, musician<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eNoam.com|website=eNoam|language=en-US|access-date=2026-04-15}}</ref> |- |2025 |Trapper Schoepp |Blue Élan |All songs |''Osborne'' |Producer, musician<ref>{{Cite web|last=Maitland |first=Kurt |date=2025-08-07|title=Trapper Schoepp Talks Songwriting and Side Hustles|url=https://twangville.com/2025/08/07/trapper-schoepp-talks-songwriting-and-side-hustles/|access-date=2026-04-03|website=Twangville|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2025 |Drumming Bird | |All songs |''Roadkill Poetry'' |Producer, musician, singer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Clayton |date=2024-09-13 |title=Where Are They Now? Song Contest Winner Austin Sawyer Talks New Single "Roadkill Poetry," Touring, and What's Next |url=https://americansongwriter.com/where-are-they-now-2022-song-contest-winner-austin-sawyer-releases-new-single-roadkill-poetry/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2024 |Dawes |Dead Ringer |All songs |''Oh Brother'' |Producer, engineer<ref name="tapeop"></ref> |- |2024 | Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird | Verve and Wegawam |All songs |''Cunningham Bird'' |Producer, musician<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/andrew-bird-and-madison-cunningham-cover-buckingham-nicks-in-full-on-new-album/ |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham Cover ''Buckingham Nicks'' in Full on New Album |website=Pitchfork |access-date=August 2, 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="6" |2022 |Panic! at the Disco | Fueled by Ramen | All songs |''Viva Las Vengeance'' | Producer, musician, singer, writer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Vulfmon | Vulf Records | Let's Go! Let's Go! |''Here We Go Jack'' | Singer, writer<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bSbt-UAQBU|title=Let's Go! Let's Go! - Vulfmon (feat. Mike Viola)|date=July 13, 2022 |via=YouTube|access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> |- |J.S. Ondara | Verve Forecast | All songs |''Tax Code 1: Telepathy Of a Mammoth'' | Producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Andrew Bird | Loma Vista | All songs |''Inside Problems'' | Producer, musician, singer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Mandy Moore | Verve Forecast | All songs |''In Real Life'' | Producer, musician, singer, writer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Noam Weinstein | | All songs |''Undivorceable'' | Producer, musician, singer<ref name="eNoam">{{cite web|url=https://www.eNoam.com|title=Noam Weinstein Official Site|website=eNoam|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" |2021 |Andrew Bird, Jimbo Mathus | | All songs |''These 13'' | Producer, musician, singer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Andrew Bird | | "Greenwine" |''Hark!'' | Producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Semisonic | | "Basement Tapes" |''You're Not Alone'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Allie Crow Buckley | | All songs |''Moonlit and Devious'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |Mandy Moore | | "I'd Rather Lose", "Save A Little For Yourself", "Fifteen", "Tryin' My Best, Los Angeles", "Easy Target", "When I Wasn't Watching", "Forgiveness", "Stories Reminding Myself of Me", "If That's What It Takes", "Silver Landings" |''Silver Landings'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Watkins Family Hour | | "The Cure", "Neighborhood Name", "Just Another Reason", "Snow Tunnel", "Lafayette", "Fake Badge, Real Gun", "Miles of Desert Sand", "Bella and Ivan", "Accidentally Like a Martyr", "Keep It Clean" |''Brother Sister'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="5" |2019 |Mandy Moore | | "When I Wasn't Watching" |''When I Wasn't Watching (single)'' | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Andrew Bird | | "Archipelago" |''My Finest Work Yet'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Jonathan Rice | | "The Long Game", "Silver Song", "Hollow Jubilee", "Meet the Mother", "Naked in the Lake", "Below the Deck", "Another Cold One", "Change", "Millions of Miles", "Friends" |''So Romantic (EP)'' | Musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Allie Crow Buckley | | All songs |''So Romantic'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Allie Crow Buckley | | "As I Walk Into the Sea", "Cusco", "Cherry Stems", "Captive", "Fool Around", "Changes" |''So Romantic (EP)'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2018 |J.S. Ondara | | "American Dream", "Torch Song", "Saying Goodbye", "Days of Insanity", "Television Girl", "Turkish Bandana", "Lebanon", "Good Question", "Master O'Connor", "Give Me A Moment", "God Bless America", "Saying Goodbye – Boulevard Demo", "Torch Song – Echo Park", "Milk and Honey", "Hearts Of Gold", "I'm Afraid Of Americans" |''Tales Of America'' | Musician, producer, engineer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Van William | | "Before I Found You", "The Country", "You'll Be On My Mind" |''Countries'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Vulfpeck | | "For Survival" |''Hill Climber'' | Musician; Songwriter<ref name="For Survival">{{cite web|url=https://vulfpeck.bandcamp.com/album/hill-climber|title=Hill Climber – Vulfpeck|website=Bandcamp.com|access-date=December 6, 2018}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" |2017 |Dan Wilson | | All songs |''Re-Covered'' | Producer, musician, singer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Shania Twain | | "Life's About To Get Good" |''Now (Deluxe)'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Ryan Adams | | "Prisoner", "Do You Still Love Me" |''Prisoner'' | Songwriter; musician<ref name="prisoner">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/prisoner-mw0003006538|title=Prisoner – Ryan Adams|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 17, 2017}}</ref> |- |WATERS | | "Molly is a Babe," "Something More," "Modern Dilemma" |''Something More!'' | Songwriter, musician, producer |- | rowspan="5" |2016 |Panic! at the Disco | | "Victorious" |''Death of a Bachelor'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |LOLO | | "No Time For Lonely" |''In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit"'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |MAX | | "Hell's Kitchen Angel," "Mug Shot" ft. Sirah |''Hell's Kitchen Angel'' | Songwriter |- |The Monkees | | |''Good Times!'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones | | All songs |''Little Windows'' | Producer, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="5" |2015 |Matt Nathanson | | "Gold in the Summertime", "Show Me Your Fangs" |''Show Me Your Fangs'' | Songwriter |- |Butch Walker | | All songs |''Afraid of Ghosts'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |New Politics | | "Pretend We're in a Movie" |''Vikings'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Andrew McMahon | | "High Dive," "Black & White Movies," "Driving Through A Dream," "Halls" "Rainy Girl," "Maps for the Getaway," "Lottery Ticket," "Art School Girlfriend," "Cecilia and the Satellite" |''Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness'' | Songwriter, producer, engineer<ref name="discogs" /> |- |Ryan Adams | | "Magic Flag" |''Vampires'' 7" | Songwriter, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- | rowspan="5" |2014 |Ryan Adams | | "Gimme Something Good", "Kim," "Trouble," "Am I Safe," "My Wrecking Ball," "Stay with Me," "Shadows," "Feels Like Fire," "I Just Might," "Tired of Giving Up," "Let Go" |''Ryan Adams'' | Producer, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- |Matt Nathanson | | "Earthquake Weather," "Mission Bells," "Kinks Shirt," "Sky High Honey," "Kill The Lights," "Heart Starts" |''The Last of the Great Pretenders'' | Songwriter, producer, musician, engineer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Jenny Lewis | | |''The Voyager'' | Producer, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Brett Dennen | | "Out of My Head" |''Smoke and Mirrors'' | Songwriter<ref name="discogs" /> |- |Jill Sobule | | All songs |''Dottie's Charms'' | Songwriter, producer, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2013 |New Politics | | "Harlem" |''A Bad Girl in Harlem'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Fall Out Boy | | |''Pax Am Days'' | Producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- |Lori McKenna | | "Love Can Put It Back Together" | | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2012 |Karise Eden | | "You Won't Let Me" |''My Journey'' | Songwriter{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} |- |Rachael Yamagata | | "Heavyweight" |''Heavyweight'' (EP) | Songwriter, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Noam Weinstein | | |''Clocked'' | Producer, musician<ref name="NewYorker">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/night-life/noam-weinstein|title=Noam Weinstein Listing|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" |2011 | Will Dailey and the Rivals | | "Best Friend" |''Will Dailey and the Rivals'' | Songwriter<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="2" |Rachael Yamagata | | "You Won't Let Me," "Dealbreaker," "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" |''Chesapeake'' | Songwriter, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | | "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" |''Muppets: The Green Album'' | Producer, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- |Gin Wigmore | | "Dirty Love" |''Gravel and Wine'' | Songwriter<ref name="discogs" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2010 | Jeremy Fisher | | "All We Want is Love" |''Flood'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |Infant Sorrow | | "Furry Walls", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "African Child (Trapped in Me)", "Little Bird", "Searching For a Father" |''Get Him to the Greek'' soundtrack | Songwriter, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2009 |Mandy Moore | | "Merrimack River," "Fern Dell," "I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week," "Pocket Philosopher," "Song About Home," "Love To Love Me Back," "Indian Summer," "Nothing Everything," "Bug" |''Amanda Leigh'' | Songwriter, producer, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- |John Wesley Harding | | "Love Or Nothing," "Sick Organism," "Congratulations (On Your Hallucinations)" |''Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead'' | Songwriter, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- | 2008 |Tim Christensen | | "Superior" |''Superior'' | Songwriter<ref name="discogs" /> |- |2007 |Dewey Cox | | "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Beautiful Ride", "Dear Mr. President", "Mulatto Song", "Let Me Hold You Little Man", "I Hate You (Big Daddy)", "Darling", "Hole in My Pants", "Who Wants To Party", "Weeping on the Inside" |''Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story'' soundtrack | Songwriter<ref name="discogs" /> |- |2006 |L.E.O. | | "Distracted", "Make Me" |''Alpacas Orgling'' | Songwriter, musician<ref>{{cite web |title=L.E.O. (4) – Alpacas Orgling |url=https://www.discogs.com/LEO-Alpacas-Orgling/release/3541119 |website=Discogs |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> |- | 2004 |The Figgs | | |''Palais'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |2003 |Rasputina | | "Bad Moon Rising", "Wish You Were Here", "Tourniquette", "Fire and Ice", "This Little Piggy", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Rock N Roll" |''The Lost and Found'' | Musician, producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- | 2002 |The Figgs | | |''Slow Charm'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | 1998 |Rasputina | | "The Olde HeadBoard" |''How We Quit The Forest'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- | rowspan="2" |1996 |Mono Puff | | |''Unsupervised'' | Musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |The Wonders | | "That Thing You Do" |''That Thing You Do!'' soundtrack | Producer, musician<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |}
== Discography == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Artist ! Album ! Role |- |1996 |Candy Butchers |''Live at La Bonboniere (EP)'' | Songwriter, producer, musician<ref name="discogs" /> |- |1999 |Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers |''Let's Get Serious (EP)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- |1999 |Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers |''Let's Get Christmas (EP)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- | 1999 | Candy Butchers | ''Falling into Place'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name ="discogs" /> |- |2001 |Mike Viola |''Temple of Static'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- | 2002 | Candy Butchers | ''Play with Your Head'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="discogs" /> |- |2004 | Candy Butchers | ''Hang On Mike'' | Songwriter, musician producer<ref name="discogs">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/287756-Mike-Viola?sort=year%2Casc&limit=500&filter_anv=0&type=Credits&page=1|title=Mike Viola discography|publisher=discogs|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref> |- | 2005 | Mike Viola | ''Just Before Dark'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name ="allmusic" /> |- |2006 |Candy Butchers |''Making up time (Candy Butchers 1994 – 1996)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |2007 | Mike Viola |''Lurch'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |2010 | Mike Viola & Kelly Jones |''Melon'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic" /> |- |2011 | Mike Viola |''Electro De Perfecto"'' | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mike-viola-mn0000154698/credits|title=Mike Viola credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref> |- |2011 |Mike Viola |''2011 Primer (Collection)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name=":0" /> |- |2012 | Mike Viola | Acousto De Perfecto | Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lojinx.com/releases/mike-viola/acousto-de-perfecto|title=Mike Viola - Acousto De Perfecto (Lojinx)|website=Lojinx.com|date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> |- |2013 |Mike Viola |''Ghoul'' |Songwriter, musician, producer<ref name=":0" /> |- |2015 | Mike Viola | ''Stairway to Paradise (EP)'' | Songwriter, musician |- |2018 |Mike Viola |''The American Egypt'' |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |2018 |Mike Viola |''Here We Go, It's Christmas Time (EP)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |2018 |Mike Viola |''Bitten and Cursed (EP)'' |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |2020 |Mike Viola |''Godmuffin'' |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |2023 |Mike Viola |''Paul McCarthy''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lojinx.com/releases/mike-viola/paul-mccarthy | title=Mike Viola - Paul McCarthy (Lojinx) | date=April 14, 2023 }}</ref> |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |2024 |Mike Viola |''Rock Of Boston''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lojinx.com/releases/mike-viola/rock-of-boston | title=Mike Viola - Rock Of Boston (Lojinx) | date=September 20, 2024 }}</ref> |Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, Mike}} Category:1966 births Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American rock songwriters Category:American rock singers Category:American power pop groups Category:Living people Category:Lojinx artists