LACHSA alum Michael Fitzpatrick ‘88 is the founding voice and principal songwriter of Fitz and the Tantrums, one of the bands you can see at LACHSApalooza on May 30 at the Greek Theatre. Make sure you get your tickets to see this high-energy band, who are known for their danceable, upbeat sound. As one reviewer said recently about their music, “The music they make just makes me happy, and I think that’s exactly what they were going for.”
Michael gives back to his alma mater when he can. You may remember him as the musical guest at the 2023 LACHSA Foundation Future Artists Gala, where he performed rousing versions of “The Walker” and “Handclap” with LACHSA students and had the entire audience on their feet dancing!
Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick performing “Handclap” with students at the 2023 LACHSA Foundation Future Artists Gala.
Fitzpatrick grew up in Los Angeles and studied vocal music at LACHSA before going on to study experimental film at CalArts. This combination of formal vocal training and visual thinking shaped his vocal and theatrical sensibility and informs the band’s tightly staged, infectious performances.
He co-founded Fitz and the Tantrums in 2008 after writing the song “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” on an old Conn electronic organ he acquired. That song became a cornerstone of the band’s early identity. The group coalesced quickly—he reached out to his friend and fellow CalArts alum, James King, who is also a LACHSA alum, class of ’93. James King co-founded the band with him, recommending the other musicians. What began as a handful of phone calls and one rehearsal turned into a full band that played its first show at the Hotel Café in Hollywood a week later.
The band’s sound blends indie pop and neo‑soul, often built around catchy hooks, call‑and‑response vocals, and a rhythm‑forward approach that nods to Motown while remaining contemporary. Their debut album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces (2010), received critical attention and topped the Billboard Heatseekers chart, establishing the group as a major new voice in alternative pop. Subsequent releases, including More Than Just a Dream and the hit single “HandClap,” expanded their audience and radio presence. Their most recent release in 2025, Man on the Moon, received critical acclaim, with Apple Music saying the album “refines their post-Motown, alt-pop aesthetic down to a science, presenting a virtual jukebox loaded with 14 potential singles that never relent in their hip-shaking and spirit-lifting intent.”
Fitzpatrick’s background in vocal performance and his theatrical instincts translate into a commanding stage persona: he writes songs with strong melodic hooks and arranges them for maximum live impact. The band’s lineup—featuring vocalist Noelle Scaggs and a horn‑and‑keyboard‑rich ensemble—makes for a danceable, exuberant show.
Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick seen here with beloved LACHSA history teacher, Jerry Freedman.
While rooted in contemporary pop, Fitzpatrick’s training at LACHSA and his early work as a studio engineer and songwriter give his music a craft‑first sensibility: songs that are both radio‑friendly and carefully arranged. The band’s trajectory—from DIY rehearsals to major‑label releases and festival stages—show how formal arts education and grassroots hustle can combine to produce lasting popular success. Fitzpatrick is proof that LACHSA’s impact is truly everywhere you turn.
