He was a member of several groups in the 1960s that included well-known musicians, such as the African Messengers, the Johnny Burch Octet, the Graham Bond Organization and the Ramong Sound.
According to the book Kay Thompson from Funny Face to Eloise by Sam Irvin, Mike Falana was a thirteen year old prodigy who could play like Miles Davis.
[1] In the 1950s, Falana was a soloist with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Dance Orchestra which had Fela Sowande and Steve Rhodes as the musical directors on various occasions.
He was described by Dick Heckstall-Smith as a "diminutive well-dressed Nigerian from a rich Lagos family" and one "who had a wonderful attitude to Britain in its seamier aspects".
US-artists such as Nina Simone, Odetta, Randy Weston, Michael Olatunji, Langston Hughes, and Lionel Hampton were part of it.
[13][14] Along with fellow Nigerian musicians; saxophonist Bobby Benson, trumpeters Zeal Onyia and Chief Bill Friday, Falana played with closing act Lionel Hampton on his signature tune, "Flying Home".
[16] Now as part of the UK group the Johnny Burch Octet, Falana participated in a live broadcast for the BBC which was recorded in March 1963.
The musical selections performed by the ensemble included "Moanin’", " Early In the Morning", "All Members", " I Remember Clifford", "Going Up North", "Nightwalk" and "Del Sasser".
[19] In early August 1963, Falana, billed a solo act was appearing at the Klooks Kleek on the same night as Brian Auger and the Trinity and the Tony Baylis Quartet.
[26] That year the group had their first single "Highlife Piccadilly" bw "Blues For Messengers" released on the Carnival label..[27] According to Melody Maker in the magazine's May 30 issue, Falana (spelt Mike Fellana), Mose Allison, the Jazz Crusaders, Chris Barber, the Staples Singers and The Yardbirds had been invited to the International Jazz Days festival.
[28] Also that year, an episode (one of the earliest) of London Line featured Nigerian parish priest, the Reverend Ogundura in the UK and a music item by Falana and the African Messengers.
Falana's solo work on "St. James Infirmary" was mentioned with reviewer Duncan Heining referring to it as a "beautifully nuanced version".