In 1988 he founded the Marina del Rey, California-based restaurant chain Killer Shrimp which he and his family continue to operate to this day.

Michaels later moved to San Francisco, where he joined an early version of The Family Tree, a band led by Bob Segarini.

[2] In 1967, he signed a contract with A&M Records, releasing his debut album, Carnival of Life, later that year with David Potter on drums.

Michaels' choice of the Hammond organ as his primary instrument was unusual for the time, as was his bare-bones stage and studio accompaniment: usually just a single drummer,[3] most often a musician known as "Frosty," (real name Bartholomew Smith-Frost), who was a member of Sweathog, and whose barehanded technique was an inspiration for John Bonham,[4] or with Joel Larson of The Grass Roots.

Once he had regained full ownership rights, Michaels granted licenses to Rhino Records and Shout Factory to release several "best of" albums over the years.