He gained worldwide recognition as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock in the early 1970s.

His incisive playing on Hancock's song "Actual Proof" off of the 1974 album Thrust garnered him an international cult following and influenced generations of drummers throughout the world.

[3] Mike has performed with such well-known jazz greats as Herbie Hancock,[4][5][6] Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Donald Harrison, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Michael Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his orchestra.

[9][10][11][12] His latest recordings include "Retro Report" with Delbert Bump on Rope-a-Dope label,[13] "Life Cycle" with Mark Sherman, Chase Baird, and Felix Pastorius, also on Rope-a-Dope;[14] Eddie Henderson's "Be Cool" on the Smoke label;[15] Charnett Moffett's "Music from Our Soul" on Motima;[16] and "Indigo Blue: Live at the Iridium"[17] with Christian McBride, Donald Harrison, Rob Dixon, Randy Brecker, and Antonio Farao on Highnote.

[18] Clark endorses Gretsch drums, Istanbul Agop cymbals, Evans drumheads, and Innovative Percussion drumsticks.