Mike Garson has spent much of his life around music. The American pianist became especially well known for his extraordinary work with David Bowie, but his career has stretched far beyond one famous collaboration.
Away from the stage and recording studio, Garson has also shared a remarkably long marriage with Susan Garson.
Mike and Susan Garson have been married since March 24, 1968. Their marriage has lasted for more than five decades, covering much of Mike’s remarkable career as a pianist, composer and collaborator.
The couple have two daughters, including Jennifer, and music has remained an important part of their family life.
Susan also developed her own connection to the music business. She managed jazz great Chick Corea, who was not only a close family friend but also became the godfather of Mike and Susan’s daughters.
Their story is therefore about much more than a famous musician and his wife. It is about a long partnership, family and a shared connection to some of the biggest names in music.
Who Is Mike Garson’s Wife?
Mike Garson’s wife is Susan Garson.
The couple married on March 24, 1968, beginning a relationship that has continued through decades of changes in the music industry.
Mike would eventually become internationally recognized for his work with David Bowie, but Susan was there during the many stages of his career.
Their marriage has lasted through changing musical trends, recording technology, touring and the growth of Mike’s reputation as one of the most distinctive pianists in contemporary music.
Susan has also had her own professional involvement in music, giving the couple a shared understanding of the industry.
While Mike spent much of his career on stage and in the studio, Susan worked behind the scenes and helped manage the careers and professional affairs of musicians.
When Did Mike Garson and Susan Garson Get Married?
Mike and Susan Garson married on March 24, 1968.
Their marriage has now lasted well over 50 years, making them one of those rare couples whose relationship has remained steady through almost an entire professional lifetime.
Mike was still at an early stage of his career when they married.
Over the years, he would go on to work with major artists and establish himself as a highly respected pianist.
Susan shared that journey with him while also developing her own career in the music world.
Their longevity is especially notable because life in the entertainment industry can be unpredictable. Musicians often face touring, travel, irregular schedules and long periods of intense work.
Despite those challenges, Mike and Susan built a lasting family life together.
How Many Children Do Mike and Susan Garson Have?
Mike and Susan Garson have two daughters.
One of their daughters is Jennifer.
The family has generally maintained a relatively private life, so there are not extensive public details about their children.
What is known is that music was an important part of their upbringing.
Their connection to Chick Corea was particularly meaningful. Corea became a close family friend and served as godfather to Mike and Susan’s daughters.
That relationship brought another legendary musician into the family’s personal world.
For the Garson family, music was not simply something that happened on a concert stage. It was also part of their friendships, family relationships and everyday life.
Susan Garson’s Connection to Chick Corea
Susan Garson had her own professional role in the music industry and managed jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea.
Corea was one of the most influential figures in modern jazz, and his relationship with the Garson family extended beyond business.
He became a close family friend and godfather to Mike and Susan’s daughters.
That connection highlights how closely the Garson family’s personal and professional lives were connected.
Susan’s work with Corea also shows that she was not simply known because she was married to Mike Garson. She had her own involvement in the music industry and worked with a major artist.
Her role behind the scenes complemented Mike’s work as a performer.
Mike Garson and David Bowie
For many music fans, Mike Garson is best known for his long collaboration with David Bowie.
Garson joined Bowie’s band in the 1970s and became an important part of the musician’s live and recorded work.
His distinctive piano style helped shape some of Bowie’s most memorable performances.
Garson’s playing was known for being adventurous and unpredictable. He could move between jazz, rock, classical influences and experimental sounds, giving Bowie’s music another layer of personality.
Susan was part of Mike’s life throughout the decades in which his career with Bowie became such an important part of his legacy.
The marriage therefore existed alongside a career that took Mike into some of the most important chapters of rock music.
A Marriage That Survived Decades of Music Industry Changes
When Mike and Susan married in 1968, the music industry looked very different from today.
Vinyl records dominated the market, touring was a different experience and digital technology was still decades away.
Over the course of their marriage, the couple witnessed enormous changes.
Mike continued developing his work as a pianist while performing with major artists and pursuing his own musical projects.
Susan’s experience in music management gave her insight into the business side of the industry.
Their ability to remain together through so many changes is an important part of their story.
Susan Garson’s Role Behind the Scenes
While Mike often performed in front of audiences, Susan’s work was more connected to the professional side of music.
Managing an artist requires organization, communication and a strong understanding of the business.
Her work with Chick Corea placed her in a position to understand the pressures that musicians face away from the stage.
That experience likely gave her a unique perspective on Mike’s career as well.
The couple could understand both sides of the industry, with Mike focused largely on performing and creating music and Susan having experience with management.
Their Family’s Special Relationship With Chick Corea
The friendship between the Garson family and Chick Corea became especially meaningful because of Corea’s role as godfather to their daughters.
It was a relationship that went beyond professional connections.
Corea was a close family friend, and his involvement in their children’s lives demonstrated the personal bond he shared with Mike and Susan.
Mike has spoken publicly about remembering Corea and the impact he had on his life.
For the Garson family, Corea was therefore both a legendary musician and someone with a personal place in their family history.
Mike Garson’s Life Away From the Stage
Mike Garson’s public identity is naturally tied to his music.
He has performed around the world, collaborated with famous artists and developed a career that has lasted for decades.
Yet his marriage to Susan provides another perspective on his life.
They have been together since 1968 and have raised two daughters.
That means Susan has been part of virtually every major stage of Mike’s adult life.
From the early years of his career to his international recognition, their marriage has remained a constant.
The Secret Behind Their Long Marriage
Mike and Susan Garson have now spent more than five decades together.
There is no single public explanation for why their marriage has lasted so long, but their shared connection to music appears to be an important part of their story.
Both understand the demands of the industry. Both have worked within the music world, although in different roles.
They also built a family and maintained close relationships with people who shared their passion for music.
That combination created a strong foundation for their life together.
Mike Garson and Susan Garson Today
Mike Garson’s legacy continues to be closely associated with his work as a pianist and his celebrated collaboration with David Bowie.
But behind that public career is a private family story that began in 1968.
His marriage to Susan Garson has lasted for more than five decades, and together they have two daughters, including Jennifer.
Susan’s own career in music management, including her work with Chick Corea, gave their family an especially deep connection to the world of jazz and popular music.
Corea’s role as godfather to their daughters made that connection even more personal.
For Mike Garson, music has been a career, a creative outlet and a lifelong passion. For his family, it has also been part of their shared history.
After more than five decades of marriage, Mike and Susan Garson’s relationship remains one of the quieter but meaningful stories behind the pianist’s extraordinary musical journey.