HEY! LISTEN: Mike Maimone Leans In For a "Big Kiss"
Mike Maimone celebrates his late husband's life and their love with the relentlessly funky anthem "Big Kiss"
Out singer-songwriter MikeMaimone celebrates Pride with Big Kiss, a funky, blues-driven anthem of queer love and defiant joy. Out May 30, the track is inspired by a tender, courageous moment shared with his late husband, LGBTQ+ icon Howard Bragman, in a roadside diner full of stares. Built on a rollicking New Orleans piano groove and recorded live with a full band, Big Kiss is both a dance-floor celebration and a heartfelt protest—urging listeners to love loudly, unapologetically, and true to themselves.
Mike writes, "This is one of the few songs on my upcoming album for my late husband that I started writing while he was still alive. Howard Bragman was known as the “Gay Guru” for his role as a publicist helping closeted celebrities come out under public scrutiny in the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. As a publicist working with GLAAD and APLA, he was also a champion of gay rights and AIDS awareness when other professionals in his field wouldn't touch those issues. By improving visibility for our communities, he helped many LGBTQ+ people live their authentic lives."
The song is inspired by a dicey moment in the couple's travels.
"Big Kiss is a tribute to being out and proud. Even now, as a proud gay man in 2025, there are still situations in which I hesitate to hold my partner's hand," Maimone says. "It still weighs on our subconscious whether we're keeping an acceptable distance in a potentially hostile environment. But I'm dedicated to making myself seen. With Howard, I refused to hold back, and I showed my affection for him in public whenever I felt moved to do so!"
