Hi, we’re Hill and Mike!
We are Hillary Grace Andrews and Mike Katz, and this is our website! We produce music, dance, perform, create and design products and accessories through our artistic abilities and talents.
Hillary Grace Andrews
Hillary Grace Andrews was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Bethesda, Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C. She followed her passion for the arts and entertainment by moving to Los Angeles, California. From a young age, she has been fascinated by music, dance, art, movies, television, and has been surrounded by talented artists and musicians throughout her life. Hillary started taking dance classes at the age of five, including ballet, tap, and jazz, and also took piano lessons from ages five to ten. She has performed Mozart’s “Ala Turca” in front of a full audience at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, a performance she still vividly remembers. Hillary is also a skilled singer and composer and was drawn to dance, particularly to the Pom Poms Dance Teams in Junior High and High School. Her father, a talented modern dancer, was a significant influence on her love for dance. After graduating from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD, Hillary went on to study Art and Fashion, as well as Interior Design at Miami University of Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design with a Concentration in Art and Fashion Merchandising. Over the years, she has been performing and teaching Bellydance and is currently working on producing the Sahara Says Shimmy Dance Video Series, along with other acting and modeling projects. Hillary is also a designer and stylist, and has worked as a non-union background extra in TV and film. Hillary is a multi-talented writer, producer, and songwriter, and she enjoys making music with her soulmate and husband, Mike Katz. Together, they make up the musical duo “Huh Ming Birds” (formerly known as American Death Truck) and have been together since 2009. They were married in 2013. Hillary is dedicated to living her dreams and creating things she loves, and they have created this website to share their work with you.
Mike Katz
Born and raised in the vibrant arts scene of Los Angeles, Mike Katz nurtured a deep love for music from a young age. At the age of 5, he was inspired by the musical scores in the movies he watched and took up playing the piano. Over time, he expanded his musical repertoire to include electric and acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. In 1991, Mike submitted a film, “The Dog Olympics,” to the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), where he was accepted and honed his skills in film and video production, editing, and composing. At CSSSA, he directed and edited a black-and-white experimental film, as well as three music videos, and even composed original pieces for a student film. He then went on to pursue and receive his Associate in Science Degree from Westwood College of Technology for Computer Programming and Software Technology.
In his 20s, Mike dedicated himself to music production and honed his skills with various home studio software. With a background in music and record retail, combined with experience at a direct mail marketing production house, he brought his expertise in music, graphics, HTML, film, and video to his first musical project, American Death Truck. The experimental band was formed out of a creative spark and a desire to fill a gap in the touring music scene, despite limited production budgets. Through hard work and determination, they played several shows and eventually evolved into their current musical project, Huh Ming Birds.
Mike and his wife Hillary, who he met on Facebook in 2009 and discovered her musical talent during a karaoke date, are now working together to launch a collaboration and website that showcases their current endeavors. Hillary is a gifted singer, dancer, and fashion designer, making their partnership a dream come true.