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Mike
Naylon
Kerry Law Portrait of Mike Naylon 2002

About

Mike

Naylon

Kerry Law Portrait 09-28-2002

About

Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Mike was one of seven children. Early on we knew Mike was gifted as he was a voracious reader with a fabulous curiosity. After graduating from Kenmore West Senior High at the very top of his class, Mike enrolled at SUNY Binghamton, where his love of music would flourish as a DJ, and later the Manager of the college radio station WHRW.

Mike had a spirit, enthusiasm, and outsized generosity - ready to share anything that he loved with others. Mike had many guises - artist, musicologist, collector, filmmaker, paralegal, proofreader, rollerblader, Coney Island swimmer, surfer, vegan cook, and inventor. An avid concert goer, nothing excited Mike more than the prospect of an upcoming show or seeing an African band on a hot afternoon at Union Pool. His enthusiasm—or more correctly, zeal—was amazing. He always seemed to know performers, promoters, and venue operators. If he didn't, he would seek them out after the show and sometimes give them one of his creations - like a silk-screened tote bag or button. He was a fan and unafraid to show it.

The many things he loved, he loved a lot.

CREATIVE Work

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Photography
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Film
Collages & Mixed Media

Mike'S Spotify
Playlist

Listen on Spotify

The Spotify playlist was created to showcase the various genres of music Mike was passionate about throughout his life. From his early teens, Mike took to under-the-radar musicians and was adamant about sharing them with friends. Mike's musical tastes were vast and personal, with a curated collection which was always a source of pride with passion.

As a manager at Binghamton's radio station WHRW, Mike was able to connect with like-minded college students, many of whom he stayed friends with for years to come.

This list will be updated frequently and, in the spirit of a radio station, requests are welcomed.

WORDS FROM
Friends

He was a hard worker and strived on accuracy and performance. We are all honored to know him.
Georgianna Andrzejczak
We cherish our memories we shared with the Naylon's on Warren Avenue. Peace to Michael and love to you all.
Vincent Paladino
Mike Naylon (Rollerblade Mike) was someone you may have known or encountered in Buffalo, Brooklyn or Manhattan in the 80's through the early decades of this century. Or maybe like me you encountered him at SUNY Binghamton, where he was my brother Thomas Rigney's housemate and one of his best friends. Maybe you saw him gliding through the streets, had a mile a minute conversation with him at Other Music, ran into him at a concert, or bought a used book, CD or strikingly original silkscreened shirt from him at a weekend sidewalk sale near the Bedford Ave L train stop. You likely knew of his love of music of all kinds and were blown away by his seemingly boundless creative spirit. Myself and many of his friends also knew him as a talented artist, with an amazing eye for an image, especially with his silkscreening and the literally handmade films he made that were the shirts' source material. You may not have known Mike's struggles with mental illness, because if he was out and about that meant he was generally in a good place. Sadly, many of us learned yesterday that Mike passed October 31. Like others, I slowly lost my connection to him for a variety of reasons which makes his passing even sadder. A great hole has opened up in our lives, knowing he's not out there rushing through the world somewhere, and that we won't ever run into him in the streets or at a show ever again. My deep deep sympathies to his family and all of those who loved him.
Dan Rigney