Michael and Marisa ~ Brother and sister music duo performing classic rock, pop and original songs.

Most twelve and thirteen year olds can't say they've performed on Hollywood's legendary Sunset Strip or at Lincoln Center in New York City. Most twelve and thirteen year olds probably couldn't name 100 songs, let alone boast a repertoire of that number that includes hits from The Beatles, AC/DC and Pearl Jam. And most twelve and thirteen year olds haven't performed over 225 gigs in dozens of cities for audiences as large as 20,000. But most twelve and thirteen year olds aren't sibling duo Michael and Marisa.

Born and raised in New England, Michael and Marisa have been wowing audiences together for over four years and their story is quite an extraordinary one. In the summer of 2005, Marisa won a role in a community theatre production of The Sound of Music. While Marisa was in rehearsals, their parents hoped to find an outlet for Michael to enjoy some time in the spotlight. Then, while reading the newspaper one morning, they saw an advertisement for an open mic night at a local tavern and decided to check it out.

Seven-year old Michael had been playing guitar for 14 months when he took the stage at the Fish Hill Tavern in Beverly, Massachusetts. He performed three songs that night, including "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. "It was the first time he played to strangers in a bar before," his mother explains. "It was like a light switch went on when he started to perform and it was something we'd never seen in him." His parents weren't the only ones who saw a shining star, as a booking agent who was sitting in the audience asked if he could begin scheduling shows for the young talent.

It was while Michael played shows in the Boston area that Marisa decided to pick up her first drum kit. "I got really, really bored playing violin and I thought drums would be fun!" she beams. On December 2, 2005, Michael introduced a special guest halfway through his performance at a holiday concert in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Standing at 3 feet, 10 inches, the diminutive Marisa eagerly joined him onstage and the pop rock duo Michael and Marisa was born. "It's been so fun to share this experience with my sister and just hang out and play on stage together," says Michael.

The pair quickly made a name for themselves in the New England area and would soon boast of a repertoire of over 100 songs from artists like The Beatles, Van Morrison, Avril Lavigne and even Hannah Montana. But perhaps the only thing more eclectic than their song list was their fan base. From young kids who found their newest heroes to parents who were appreciative of the family-friendly act to music aficionados who couldn't believe those young siblings were responsible for the music emanating from the speakers, Michael and Marisa gained a loyal following across the country.

Two years ago, they began writing original music and by June of 2007, they'd penned 14 original songs together. In September, Michael and Marisa began working with Emmy-Award nominated songwriter Amy Powers (Sunset Boulevard) and Jeannie Lurie (Hannah Montana). Over several months, they completed five new tracks for their debut album and were thrilled to have written on two of them. On June 1, 2008, Michael and Marisa released their debut album Kickin' It Together and are proud to have contributed seven of their own songs (along with two co-writes) on the record.

With both their album and their live performances, they hope to inspire people everywhere to not only make a difference in the world, but also to find their dreams and do everything they can to achieve them. They may be only eleven and twelve, but Michael and Marisa are sure to garner fans of all ages as they "kick it together" on their way to the top.