Michael Anthony Viola (born September 26, 1966) is an American record producer, musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his work with Dawes, Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, J.S. Ondara, Mandy Moore, and Jenny Lewis. His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as That Thing You Do!, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Get Him to the Greek.
As a teenager in the early 1980s, Viola played Boston-area clubs with his band, the Bottom Line, and was billed as "Boston's youngest musical talent." His parents, Charlene and Larry Viola, bought his equipment and allowed their basement to be turned into a rehearsal room.
Viola got his major professional start in the mid-1990s as the musical architect for New York–based band Candy Butchers, releasing three critically acclaimed albums with RPM/Sony Records before focusing on music production.
Soundtrack work Viola, along with friend Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, co-produced the title track for Tom Hanks's 1996 movie That Thing You Do! The selection received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Viola sang lead on the track, and as the accepted singing voice of Johnathon Schaech's character, Jimmy, also sang on other tracks in the film, such as "Little Wild One" and "All My Only Dreams."
For the 2007 Jake Kasdan/Judd Apatow film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Viola wrote or co-wrote "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Darling", "(I Hate You) Big Daddy", "Dear Mr. President", "Beautiful Ride", "Sir Ringe The Marshmallow Elephant", and "Let Me Hold You Little Man". Viola served as musical director on a promotional tour for the film in December 2007, with John C. Reilly acting out his fictional character of Dewey Cox.
Viola also contributed songwriting for Russell Brand's character Aldous Snow in the 2010 film Get Him to the Greek, including "African Child", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "Searching For a Father in America", "Little Bird", "Furry Walls". In 2012, he played the character of Franky in two promotional songs for the video game Club Penguin, "Anchors Aweigh" and "Ghosts Just Wanna Dance".
Discography Solo work Year Artist Album Role1996Candy ButchersLive at La Bonboniere (EP) Producer, songwriter, musician1999Mike Viola and the Candy ButchersLet's Get Serious (EP)Producer, songwriter, musicianMike Viola and the Candy ButchersLet's Get Christmas (EP)Producer, songwriter, musician Candy Butchers Falling into Place Producer, songwriter, musician2001Mike ViolaTemple of StaticProducer, songwriter, musician 2002 Candy Butchers Play with Your Head Producer, songwriter, musician2004 Candy Butchers Hang On Mike Producer, songwriter, musician 2005 Mike Viola Just Before Dark Producer, songwriter, musician2006Candy ButchersMaking up time (Candy Butchers 1994 – 1996)Producer, songwriter, musician2007 Mike ViolaLurchProducer, songwriter, musician2010 Mike Viola & Kelly JonesMelonProducer, songwriter, musician2011 Mike ViolaElectro De Perfecto"Producer, songwriter, musicianMike Viola2011 Primer (Collection)Producer, songwriter, musician2012 Mike Viola Acousto De Perfecto Producer, songwriter, musician2013Mike ViolaGhoulProducer, songwriter, musician2015 Mike Viola Stairway to Paradise (EP) Songwriter, musician2018Mike ViolaThe American EgyptProducer, songwriter, musician, engineerMike ViolaHere We Go, It's Christmas Time (EP)Producer, songwriter, musician, engineerMike ViolaBitten and Cursed (EP)Producer, songwriter, musician, engineer2020Mike ViolaGodmuffinProducer, songwriter, musician, engineer2023Mike ViolaPaul McCarthyProducer, songwriter, musician, engineer2024Mike ViolaRock Of BostonProducer, songwriter, musician, engineer
Production and writing credits Year Artist Album Song Role2026 Vulfmon Dott "Mellotron" Musician, singer, songwriter, engineer Noam Weinstein Male Model Co-producer, musician2025 Vulfmon Deg "Dawn" Co-producer, engineer Trapper Schoepp Osborne Producer, musician Drumming Bird Roadkill Poetry Producer, musician, singer2024 Dawes Oh Brother Producer, engineer Madison Cunningham, Andrew Bird Cunningham Bird Producer, musician Vulfmon Dot "Little Thunder" Co-producer, musician, engineer2022Panic! at the DiscoViva Las Vengeance Producer, musician, singer, songwriterVulfmonHere We Go Jack "Let's Go! Let's Go!" Singer, songwriterJ.S. OndaraTax Code 1: Telepathy Of a Mammoth ProducerAndrew BirdInside Problems Producer, musician, singerMandy MooreIn Real Life Producer, musician, singer, writerNoam WeinsteinUndivorceable Producer, musician, singer2021Andrew Bird, Jimbo MathusThese 13 Producer, musician, singerAndrew BirdHark! "Greenwine" ProducerSemisonicYou're Not Alone "Basement Tapes" SongwriterAllie Crow BuckleyMoonlit and Devious Producer, songwriter, musician2020 Mandy Moore Silver Landings Producer, songwriter, musician Watkins Family HourBrother Sister Producer, songwriter, musician2019Mandy Moore "When I Wasn't Watching" Producer, songwriter, musician, engineerAndrew BirdMy Finest Work Yet "Archipelago" MusicianJohnathan RiceThe Long Game Producer, musician Allie Crow BuckleySo Romantic Producer, songwriter, musician2018 J.S. Ondara Tales Of America Producer, musician, engineer Van WilliamCountries "Before I Found You", "The Country", "You'll Be On My Mind" SongwriterVulfpeckHill Climber "For Survival" Singer, songwriter2017Dan WilsonRe-Covered Producer, musician, singerShania TwainNow (Deluxe) "Life's About To Get Good" MusicianRyan AdamsPrisoner "Prisoner", "Do You Still Love Me" Songwriter, musicianWATERSSomething More! "Molly is a Babe," "Something More," "Modern Dilemma" Producer, songwriter, musician2016Panic! at the DiscoDeath of a Bachelor "Victorious" SongwriterLOLOIn Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit" "No Time For Lonely" SongwriterMAXHell's Kitchen Angel "Hell's Kitchen Angel," "Mug Shot (ft. Sirah)" SongwriterThe MonkeesGood Times! MusicianTeddy Thompson, Kelly JonesLittle Windows Producer, musician2015Matt NathansonShow Me Your Fangs "Gold in the Summertime", "Show Me Your Fangs" SongwriterButch WalkerAfraid of Ghosts MusicianNew PoliticsVikings "Pretend We're in a Movie" SongwriterAndrew McMahonAndrew McMahon in the Wilderness "High Dive," "Black & White Movies," "Driving Through A Dream," "Halls" "Rainy Girl," "Maps for the Getaway," "Lottery Ticket," "Art School Girlfriend," "Cecilia and the Satellite" Producer, songwriter, engineerRyan AdamsVampires (Paxam Singles Series Volume 3) (EP) "Magic Flag" Songwriter, musician2014Ryan Adams Producer, musicianMatt NathansonThe Last of the Great Pretenders "Earthquake Weather," "Mission Bells," "Kinks Shirt," "Sky High Honey," "Kill The Lights," "Heart Starts" Producer, songwriter, musician, engineerJenny LewisThe Voyager Producer, musicianBrett DennenSmoke and Mirrors "Out of My Head" SongwriterJill SobuleDottie's Charms Producer, songwriter, musician2013New PoliticsA Bad Girl in Harlem "Harlem" SongwriterFall Out BoyPax Am Days ProducerLori McKenna "Love Can Put It Back Together" Songwriter2012Karise EdenMy Journey "You Won't Let Me" SongwriterRachael YamagataHeavyweight (EP) "Heavyweight" Songwriter, musicianNoam WeinsteinClocked Producer, musician2011 Will Dailey and the RivalsWill Dailey and the Rivals "Best Friend" SongwriterRachael YamagataChesapeake "You Won't Let Me," "Dealbreaker," "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" Songwriter, musicianMuppets: The Green Album "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" Producer, musicianGin WigmoreGravel and Wine "Dirty Love" Songwriter2010 Jeremy FisherFlood "All We Want is Love" Producer, songwriter, musicianInfant SorrowGet Him to the Greek "Furry Walls", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "African Child (Trapped in Me)", "Little Bird", "Searching For a Father" Songwriter, musician2009Mandy MooreAmanda Leigh Producer, songwriter, musicianJohn Wesley HardingWho Was Changed and Who Was Dead "Love Or Nothing," "Sick Organism," "Congratulations (On Your Hallucinations)" Songwriter, musician 2008Tim ChristensenSuperior "Superior" Songwriter2007Dewey CoxWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Beautiful Ride", "Dear Mr. President", "Mulatto Song", "Let Me Hold You Little Man", "I Hate You (Big Daddy)", "Darling", "Hole in My Pants", "Who Wants To Party", "Weeping on the Inside" Songwriter2006L.E.O.Alpacas Orgling "Distracted", "Make Me" Songwriter, musician 2004The FiggsPalais Musician2003RasputinaThe Lost and Found Producer, musician 2002The FiggsSlow Charm Musician 1998RasputinaHow We Quit The Forest "The Olde HeadBoard" Musician1996Mono PuffUnsupervised MusicianThe WondersThat Thing You Do! "That Thing You Do" Producer, musician
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