Saxophonist, Composer, Producer, Actor

Michael Cates is a professional saxophonist, composer and producer with three solo albums.    Having been on the Jersey scene for many years 

Michael launched his career as a N.Y. studio musician/sideman, and his love for the West coast made him a bicoastal player.  He has performed with and shared the stage with Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, Barry White, Joe Sample, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Tommy Mars and Jon Gilutin to name a few.  He has performed at venues including BB King NY, The Newport Beach Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Stone Pony, Spaghettini, Catalina Club, Little Rock Jazz Festival, The Rose Bowl and on countless stages across the US and Europe.

Cates is a professional actor as well, and a Screen Actors Guild member for over twenty five years. He played the part of the saxophone player on the David E. Kelley Production hit TV series, “Ally McBeal” for five seasons, from 1999 until its final episode.

He has been in various other TV shows and national TV commercials.