People around the northern suburbs of Chicago might recognize Mark Damisch as the former village president, or mayor, of Northbrook -- or as the successful former prosecutor who, along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, aggressively pursued corrupt police officers in the 1980s.

In between cases as an attorney at a downtown Chicago firm, Damisch ran for but lost an election for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000.

But few people knew at the time he was also once a professional pianist.

"I was never going to be a quarterback on the football team or the starting pitcher on a baseball team. But I found that I could find myself through playing the piano."

In the early 1980's, Damisch quietly put away his music and pursued a more practical career.

But as the new millennium approached, Damisch looked at the piano that had gathered dust for almost two decades, and began playing professionally again.

He is known now at home as the "Musical Mayor."