Four Decades of Rhythmic Mastery.
Michael Paratore is an accomplished hand percussionist whose distinctive sound is rooted in four decades of dedication to the doumbek and the rich musical traditions of his Middle Eastern heritage.
Born and raised in Upstate New York, Michael was introduced to music through his family and began his training under the guidance of his grandfather, Samuel Shaheen, and his uncle, Tony Shaheen, both world-renowned violin virtuosos. Samuel and Tony performed extensively with acclaimed musicians and singers throughout the United States, Canada, and the Middle East, providing Michael with an exceptional musical foundation from an early age.
Over more than 40 years, Michael has developed a highly distinctive approach to hand percussion, seamlessly blending traditional Middle Eastern rhythms with contemporary pop, DJ, Arabic, belly dance, and world music. His playing is defined by precision, intensity, and a commanding rhythmic presence.
Michael’s recording and performance credits include collaborations with acclaimed musicians such as Anton Cosmo, singer-songwriter and lead guitarist of the original band Boston. Michael appears on Cosmo’s album The In Between and contributed percussion to the track “Closer To Heaven.”
He has also recorded and performed with Jeff Tortora, a prominent drummer associated with the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas, as well as Rich Ortiz, Este Brown, Kaleem Issa, and internationally recognized saxophonist Eric Knight Behrends.
Michael’s work has also reached television audiences through his performance of high-energy pop rhythms for one episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. His appearance in North Bergen, New Jersey, showcased the versatility of his doumbek playing within a contemporary American entertainment setting, bringing his distinctive hand-percussion sound into the world of television and popular culture.
His performance experience also includes appearances at the Coliseum Event Center in White Plains, New York, where he provided dynamic hand percussion for high-end fashion shows and upscale live events. These performances highlighted his ability to complement sophisticated visual productions with an energetic, polished, and culturally distinctive rhythmic presence.
Today, Michael continues to bring his distinctive doumbek sound to recording sessions, live performances, artist collaborations, instructional demonstrations, and specialty productions. His musicianship reflects decades of discipline, cultural tradition, and a commitment to delivering powerful, dynamic rhythmic experiences wherever his music takes him.
