Mike James Kirkland, born in 1946 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, is an American R&B singer. He began his musical journey singing gospel and doo-wop with his brothers Walter and Robert in a local act called The Seven Seals. In 1965, Kirkland started his recording career as the leader of Mike & The Censations, releasing singles such as "Victim of Circumstance" and "There is Nothing I Can Do About It", both of which charted in the Top 50 R&B. After the group disbanded, Kirkland moved to California with his brother Robert and founded Bryan Records, releasing two albums: Hang on in There (1972) and Doin' it Right (1973). In 1975, he began issuing solo recordings under the name Bo Kirkland. As part of a duo with Ruth Davis, he achieved a Top 20 single in the UK with "You're Gonna Get Next To Me" in 1977.