Derived from a musical family, Mike started studying and learning to read music while playing the Saxophone in Junior High. Mike began his interest in guitar at the age of 14. Soon after realizing that learning music on the guitar was a passion he realized that taking up the electric bass would be a good idea since his dad was always looking for a bassist as well as his peers at school. This was the early 90's and everyone was playing electric guitar but there was a lack of true bassists.

By the age of 15. Mike got his first electric bass and quickly picked up on how to play complex bass lines by bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Beastie Boys etc,etc . Mike's dad Mike Montano Sr realized that his son was ready to learn Blues, Classic Rock & Jazz & Latin Jazz theories. After a short time, Mike played his first gig with his dad.

By the age of 16, he joined his first original/non cover heavy metal band.  By the age of 20, he was a founding member of the original Adema who was signed to Arista Records a year after Mike departed the band for personal reasons.  However, Mike did receive credit for involvement with a few songs on Adema's Arista Records debut album.

Since 2000 Mike has played in several hard hitting original rock groups such as Spilt Milk 2000-2001, Kamahitlist 2001-2004, Midnight Panic 2005-2007 (With Marky Chavez of Adema) Gallows to Graves 2008-2010.

Mike had a brief stint with Kelulu in 2009. Even though he did not want to, he had to depart Kelulu due to having recording and gig obligations to Gallows to Graves. In June of 2010 Kelulu had to find a new bassist. "I definitely regretted having to leave Kelulu the first time, so when they hit me up to come back I was more than excited to rejoin this great band."