Born in Altoona, PA, Mike Swope began playing drums at the age of nine. After graduating from high school, he served in the US Army where he played in the 101st Airborne Division Band at Ft. Campbell, KY. After managing an honorable discharge, he attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and served in the Tennessee National Guard Band in Nashville. While attending APSU, he performed in clinics with Bob Mintzer and Rich Matheson, and performed for President George HW Bush. While serving in the National Guard, he performed with Lee Greenwood and Boots Randolph. In addition to touring extensively with Louise Mandrell, whom he joined in 1993, Mike has also appeared on National TV with Linda Davis, Terri Clark, Chrystal Gale, Janie Fricke, Skip Ewing, Alecia Elliot and Shane McAnally through Louise’s charity work with Boy Scouts of America.