Mike Theriault (pronounced T?rio) began his musical journey as a young boy growing up in the small town of Concord, Massachussetts. He was the third of five children born to Paul and Helene Theriault, and was raised in a devout catholic family setting. He started out as a drummer and was heavily influenced by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Steppenwolf and Cream. Mike’s parents supported his musical efforts during the early years and probably deserve some sort of medal for tolerating the incessant garage rehearsals while mastering the fine art of diplomacy with their less-than-tolerant neighbors. These early years amounted to no more than an occasional high school dance gig while playing covers from their favorite bands. However, they served to form the foundation for Mike’s passion for music and desire to take it to a much higher level.

Sometime during his high school years, he picked up a guitar and began teaching himself how to play. Initially, as Mike explains, “the guitar seemed like a more glamorous instrument to play”, but later on he realized that it was the melodic qualities of the guitar and the ability to write songs from it that ultimately drew him to the instrument. He realized he had a gift for playing guitar, and has come to realize time and again the contribution that playing drums has had on his rhythmic guitar style. He also began to paint during those years, developing his own style, primarily working in watercolor.

Throughout the early seventies, Mike began to realize that there were serious inconsistencies between his faith and the way he lived his life and he began searching for truth and for purpose. His search ended up in his conversion sometime in 1973 after finally understanding the power of God’s grace and forgiveness, and God’s desire for us to live a holy life. Nothing in his life would ever be the same.

In 1975, he married his high school sweetheart, Suzanne Laginess and they had two children – Graham and Jillian. Although the marriage was tumultuous, it lasted 20 years before Suzanne divorced him and moved to Seattle in 1995. During the first 17 years of the marriage, as Mike explains, “everything musical was put on hold as we tried to get through each day emotionally intact.” He probably picked up his guitar once or twice a year during those years as all forms of artistic expression fell by the wayside.

After graduating from the University of Washington Business School with a degree in accounting in 1986, Mike worked for a number of firms in and around the Seattle area and ultimately ended up in Bellingham, Washington in the fall of 1992. He accepted a position as CFO for a large construction firm and the family began attending Cornwall Church. It was at this point that his musical journey became revitalized and he began playing on Cornwall’s worship teams. He met and became friends with the newly appointed senior pastor, Bob Marvel (also a guitar player), and together, they formed the nucleus of what would become a highly-impactful worship team in a rapidly growing church. Mike’s revitalized faith and musicianship at Cornwall began to fuel his desire to write and over the next few years, several of the songs on his first CD were written. In 1997, he married his best friend and soul mate Catherine Prager, and they began a new life together. The final track on the CD (Flower of the Son) is dedicated to Catherine. The title is a play on words that reflects Catherine’s love for sunflowers, her irrepressible joy, and her love for her saviour, Jesus Christ – the Son. Catherine played percussion on the worship team and her joy for life and her love for music further fueled Mike’s song writing passions. In early 1997, he was also asked to join Cornwall’s staff as Worship Pastor and in September of that year, he answered God’s call and became a full-time member of Cornwall’s staff.

The church grew rapidly and so did the creative elements surrounding its worship services. As the worship teams, drama team and technical teams grew, he became convinced that God had brought him to this church to utilize his unique combination of administrative and leadership skills combined with his musical talents and passion for worshiping God.

Mike continued to grow as an artist and songwriter and in early 2004, he promised Catherine that he would begin recording before summer began. After interviewing several studios, he chose Bayside Recording in Bellingham, and with strong help from studio owner, engineer and co-producer, Chip Westerfield, Found without a Trace began to come together. The concept for the project started strictly as a worship CD, but ultimately, ended up including other songs that were not intended to be considered worship choruses. During the project, he actually broke his back in a freak cliff jumping accident in Mexico which set the release date back a couple of months. He also developed a strong friendship with Chip who is also an accomplished guitarist and who’s roots, like Mike’s, went back to mainstream rock and roll. Their common musical tastes resulted in the unique flavor of Found without a Trace.

Many influences can be heard on his first CD. Mike’s guitar playing was influenced by Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Joe Walsh, Eric Johnson, and Phil Keaggy. Over the years, his songwriting has been heavily influenced by Marc Cohn, Neil Young, Rueben Morgan, Craig Carothers and John Mayer. He is a member of ASCAP and sole owner of subversive music, which published Found without a Trace.

After years of leading worship, leading musical ensembles and writing songs from his heart, Mike has finally emerged with a musical project that expresses his desire use the gifts God has given him to glorify his Lord, Jesus Christ. Enjoy!

More about Mike…
Favorite guitars: Fender Stratocaster, Hamer Artist, Larrivee C09, Larrivee OM5
Favorite singer/songwriter: Marc Cohn
Favorite scripture: Ephesians 5:1
Favorite guitarist: Eric Clapton
Favorite worship leaders: Tommy Walker, Paul Baloche, Darlene Zchech, Chris Tomlin
Favorite pastime: SCUBA diving in the Caribbean (not cliff jumping!)
Favorite worship chorus: “To the Ends of the Earth” – (Joel Houston – Hillsong)
Favorite food: Mexican
Spiritual influences: the Holy Spirit, C.S. Lewis, Erwin McMannus, John Ortberg, Ken Gire, Bob Marvel

Soli Deo Gloria!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord – Psalm 150:6






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