Orland Michael

American musician who played piano for the contestants on "American Idol 2, a Fox TV show which attracts over 21 million viewers each airing. At age 4, Orland played the score to “Mary Poppins” on the piano, his mother recounts. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to study accounting, wanting to be “a good son.” But all the while, he was working at a dinner theater group. Knowing he could make money doing what he loved compelled him to take a huge risk and move to New York City. He landed a job at a piano bar, where he learned to play just about anything; he has since played for the likes of George Burns, Barry Manilow, and Dom DeLuise. It was the Manilow connection, in addition to his talents and skills, that landed him his role as accompanist on “American Idol 2.” Read less