Chief Michael Louis Kuk
*Veteran -
Michael Louis Kuk has been a life-
He started formal lessons at age seven, and quickly outstepped his Catholic nun teachers, going on to play the Hammond organ everywhere.
Today, he excels not only as a performer, but as an arranger and songwriter, with his work captured in both a Hollywood movie and on a "live" double album CD.
At age nine he started playing the Hammond C-
At age sixteen he joined the A F of M Musicians Union in 1965, attaining Lifetime Member status, and continues to serve on the Executive Board.
Michael started performing as a solo act, eventually becoming the organist and leader of the celebrated Union Jacks of the 1960’s in the Midwest, until military service called in 1969 for Vietnam with the U.S. Army as a Combat Firefighter.
In Vietnam at the U. S. Army’s Long Binh Post, he used a Hammond C-
Moving to Louisiana in 1976 for a chemical plant fire chief’s position, he quickly found numerous musical venues and he continued as both a solo act, and in several country-
As his reputation spread, he found extra work as a guest keyboardist for many regional and top name acts, especially Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco artists.
It was during his fire service career in Louisiana that he became known as the "Chief of the Keyboards". The story goes as that one of his assistant chiefs started calling him by that title and it has stuck to this day, as he was the first to use multiple keyboards with his Hammond during many shows and performances.
His portable keyboard of choice for many years was a Hammond XB-
As a 100% Disabled Vietnam Veteran, Michael is well known and received at all of the Veterans’ ceremonies for his musical talents and ceremonial support. He is recognized as our Nation’s foremost performing firefighter-
In 2006 he was inducted into the Iowa Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in with his band the Union Jacks. In addition to future recognition, Michael has been nominated to the Iowa Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame as an Individual Artist for 2024.
His double CD entitled “Live at the Polk Theater” is awash with the sound of his XK-
The greatest honor of Michael's musical life has been to be the sole 'Live" musician in the world to perform at the funeral of Jerry Lee Lewis. A lifelong friend of the Lewis family, this performance was a promise kept from many years ago to Jerry’s older sister, Frankie Jean.
What he did at the funeral is called the "Cajun Send-
Michael has been a firefighter since 1965, a published author since 1974, and does Hollywood movie acting when a casting call requires his style and look.
His roster of Hammond gear is: XK-
Musician/Entertainer
