In 1962, at Butlin's holiday camp in Clacton, Mike hired Manfred Mann to play with him in a jazz combo.  Once back in London, they formed The Mann Hugg Quartet, playing modern jazz.  But the blues began to dominate - the band evolved into The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers; they shed four members and became a trim quintet. EMI signed them up in 1963 and gave them a new name: Manfred Mann.  With their third single, 5-4-3-2-1, which Mike co-wrote as TV's Ready Steady Go! signature tune, they had their first hit on their hands.

Outside of his busy writing and performing success with Manfred Mann, Mike teamed up with Manfred to write hundreds of award-winning TV jingles and was commissioned to compose the memorable soundtrack to the movie Up The Junction.  The disbanding of Manfred Mann in 1969 presented Mike with a new direction - this time, with Manfred Mann Chapter Three he left the drum stool and became vocalist and keyboard player, as well as writing most of the band's repertoire.  Chapter Three lasted two years, and the band's demise offered Mike the chance to write and record two solo albums, Somewhere and Stress and Strain.