Michael Strickland

Michael Strickland was paid $25.00 for lighting his first rock concert in 1968 at the age of twelve. He knew The Grass Roots were in town to perform so he borrowed the overhead projectors and lights from his school and set them up for their show. The band was impressed, and Michael was hooked! He later formed the company Bandit Lites and went on to a very innovative and successful career. Over the years he served as lighting director for thousands of performers including Dolly Parton, The James Gang, Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers and Garth Brooks. Michael also toured with Alice Cooper and Jimmy Buffet and has even done lighting for a Super Bowl half-time show. In 2020 he was awarded the Parnelli Visionary Award for his dedication to the craft of lighting design.