Michael Skinkus

Born outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1969, Michael Skinkus had an early desire for syncopated music, and his ears fell first upon Caribbean music, and then New Orleans.  His early musical endeavors included private guitar lessons until 6^th grade when he found his true love, the world of percussion.

Since moving to New Orleans in 1987, Skinkus has been an integral part of the local Latin, Jazz, and Popular music scenes, contributing to recordings or performing with the likes of Irma Thomas, Charles Neville, Dr. John, The Radiators, Johnny Adams, and many others.

Skinkus earned a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology from Tulane University in 2003 and continues as an educator. He leads the band Moyuba, which performed most recently at the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  An active professional musician performing in diverse aspects of the New Orleans music scene for over thirty years, Skinkus notes that the depiction of our city as culturally “The Northernmost Port of the Caribbean” feels ever more poignant and apropos.