[1] Then a New York-based session drummer, he performed on Sparks' 1976 album Big Beat, which was produced by Rupert Holmes.
Michaels was the only session musician to go on the North American tour with Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks.
His first music experience came with playing in a band called Joy, featuring a young Michael Bolton.
In 1979, Jake Hooker worked with Michaels to capture a million dollar deal with Warner Bros. Records and a music video to promote Calling All Girls in 1980 with Roy Thomas Baker as the producer.
In the movie Rollercoaster, he appeared with Sparks, performing the songs "Big Boy" and "Fill'er Up".