Individual | Inducted 2025
Mike A. Macharello is a prominent figure in Chicago’s House Music scene as a DJ, music artist, studio producer, record label owner, event promoter, professional bartender, club owner, magazine graphic designer, and nightlife impresario. His career began in the early 1980s, when the electrifying sounds of disco, dance, and house music captivated him. Soon, Macharello’s DJ skills were captivating crowds across Chicagoland at nightclubs like Nutbush City Limits, Paradise, Coconuts, Bistro Too, and Roscoe’s, landing him a place on Chicago’s prestigious “100 Most Influential House DJs” list. Mike was a master-mixer DJ on Chicago radio stations like WGCI, WBMX, and WXFM, and in the disco era WDAI (Disco DAI) radio station would regularly countdown his top five most played songs on the air.
In 1997, Macharello took the leap into club ownership with Circuit Night Club. Over the club’s 20-year history, Circuit became a beacon of inclusivity and pulsating rhythms that drew dancers and music lovers from across the city and beyond. Under Macharello’s leadership, Circuit hosted legendary DJs, nurtured up- and-coming talent, and brought major recording artist to the club’s stage. Circuit Night Club became a cornerstone of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, welcoming white, Black, Hispanic, gay, lesbian, transgender, and gay-friendly straight people to the Northalsted strip.
Macharello further amplified Chicago’s alternative lifestyle scene through boiMAGazine, a publication that was launched at the GayY2K millennium event produced by Macharello at the Congress Theater. With Macharello as graphic designer and content creator, boiMAGazine became a vital platform for the alternative lifestyle community, highlighting talent, showcasing major Chicago events, and chronicling the scene’s evolution.
Though Circuit closed its doors in 2016, Macharello continues to leave his mark on Chicago’s ever-evolving musical landscape. He’s a mentor to countless DJs and creatives, a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity, and a tireless ambassador for Chicago’s nightlife and music scene. And in 2025, Macharello embarked on his most important work, philanthropy, by setting the stage for a non-profit organization, the Chicago Arts Center, whose mission is to help combat post-pandemic smart-device addictions.