They Retired, Started a Band and Turned Six Years of Practice Into a Way to Give Back

Mike and Shirlene Bungo turned a shared love of music into B.Y.E. Band, donating 100% of their performance fees and tips to charitable organizations and venue staff.

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement did not mean slowing down for Mike and Shirlene Bungo. Instead, it gave them the opportunity to try something completely new: learning to perform music together and eventually turning their passion into a way to give back.

What began with family jam sessions and a shared love of music eventually grew into B.Y.E. Band, short for Best Years Ever. Neither Mike nor Shirlene had a professional background in music or singing. With the help of a music and vocal coach, they spent six years learning, practicing and developing their sound before performing live for the first time.

Today, the Bungos perform familiar songs spanning the decades for audiences in Pennsylvania and Florida, bringing people together through music they remember, recognize and can sing along to.

What makes B.Y.E. Band particularly unique is what happens with the money they earn. Mike and Shirlene donate 100% of their performance fees and tips to charitable organizations and venue staff.

In just four years of performing live, the couple has personally donated more than $200,000 to charities and venue staff working their shows. During that same period, they have also served as the sole entertainment at larger charity events that collectively raised more than $750,000.

"We started playing because we enjoy it," said Mike Bungo. "We never expected it to turn into what it has."

For the Bungos, the experience is about more than the music or the money raised. They want their performances to give people a chance to step away from the hustle, bustle and challenges of everyday life and simply enjoy themselves for a few hours.

"We were just doing something we loved," said Shirlene Bungo. "It grew from there."

The couple says one of the greatest rewards has been the people they have met along the way. Their goal is to turn a casual night of live music into a memorable experience where people can relax, have fun and feel connected to those around them.

They hope everyone leaves with a smile, a renewed perspective on what is important, a couple of new friends and a few favorite songs playing in their heads.

The name B.Y.E., or Best Years Ever, has come to represent more than the band's music. For Mike and Shirlene, it represents an unexpected chapter of life built around trying something new, sharing their love of music, giving back and connecting with others.

Their story is a reminder that retirement can be the beginning of something entirely unexpected. Sometimes, the best chapters of life are the ones you never planned.

For performance footage or additional information, visit byeband.com

SOURCE B.Y.E. Band