Chatters That Matter Celebrating Autism Awareness Month With Hot Mike And Kia Shine

Raised in Linden, New Jersey, part of the New York Metro area, bordering Staten Island, Michael Eric Buckholtz, (also nicknamed ‘Buck‘) an aboriginal Cherokee🏹, officially, got his musical start, at 7 years old. His first instrument (at his father’s insistence on discipline) was the clarinet. Later, he developed a passion for the electric bass guitar. Michael’s mission, then, became to learn many other instruments and become proficient with the piano. In 1975, the family moved south to Macon, GA., the home of Otis Redding and Little Richard, continuing his musical development in the family band.

In late 1989, he joined MC Hammer’s record label, Bust-It Records, distributed by Capitol Records, eventually writing and producing music for Hammer and many label mates.

Officially diagnosed as autistic, Michael decided to author the book, “Autism Is My Universe“, as a way of sharing his personal point of reference living with autism while “Black“. Michael’s understanding of his autistic traits, as well as others, continues to evolve. He was invited, by ANCA Consulting, to British Columbia, Canada, for a book signing, to share his message about recognizing the importance of accepting autistic people. In 2012, Music Producer Hot Mike received Canada’s INAP “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, along with a Canadian Parliamentary certificate of recognition. In 2016, he was featured in ZOOM Autism Magazine’s ninth issue. Michael is, also, acknowledged, in the New York Times Best Seller “NeuroTribes – The Legacy of Autism…”, by author (and good friend) Steve Silberman. Currently, he is a Member Board of Trustees with YICUNITY.org who’s mission believes individuals with disabilities should have the same right as non-disabled individuals to have access to a full range of available employment opportunities and to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing based on their talents, skills, and interests. This includes access to training and employment services to aid individuals with disabilities in obtaining gainful employment in a field of their interest and choosing. Hot Mike’s focus is on jobs centered in the music industry.

Today, Music Producer Hot Mike is, still, under contract through Warner/Chappell, as a composer, producing and designing music for companies, TV and film.

You can follow Mike on Twitter at @OfficialHotMike.

https://officialhotmike.com/

Nakia Shine Coleman (born October 17, 1975), better known by his stage name Kia Shine, is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is perhaps best known for his commercial debut single "Krispy", which is also the lead single from his 2007 debut album Due Season. He has worked with several fellow rappers, such as Mike Jones, Yo Gotti, Nelly, Jim Jones, among others. Kia Shine is co-CEO, alongside rapper Jack Frost, of Rap Hustlaz. Kia Shine won the Southern Entertainment Award (S.E.A.) in 2008 for best underground artist having sold over 200,000 albums with his independent label, Rap Hustlaz. His 2007 single "W.O.W." was the inspiration for the "wow" feature on the social media website HellaDoge, where members can earn Dogecoin for making posts and giving "wows" (similar to the "like" feature on other social media).

Kia Shine is also an Autism advocate: "We’ve started a nonprofit because we’re autism advocates by default because our son Jameson was diagnosed with nonverbal autism. As my wife always says, when people look for their purpose or their philanthropy [they usually find it], but ours was thrown into our lap and we’ve taken the bull by the horns."

Kia Shine and his wife Queen Coleman decided to spread their stories to help other families with autism.

https://twitter.com/THEREALKIASHINE

https://www.instagram.com/kinfolk_kiashine