Auldridge, Mike

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MIKE AULDRIDGE

  • From Washington, D.C.
  • One of bluegrass music’s best known and most influential Dobro™ (resophonic guitar) players.
  • Besides his work with the Seldom Scene and other bands, he appeared on recordings with Linda Ronstadt, Hank Williams, Jr., Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, Ry Cooder and many others.
  • Learned Dobro™ after hearing “Uncle Josh” Graves. Bought his first Dobro™ from Graves for $150.
  • First band: “The South Mountain Boys” (when he was in high school.)
  • He is also a graphic artist. He designed several of the Seldom Scene’s early album covers as well as the logo for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.
  • Nickname: “Larry the Legend.”
  • 1967, first professional job: Cliff Waldron and Bill Emerson’s band “The New Shades of Grass.”
  • 1971, was an original member of The Seldom Scene.
  • 1972, released his signature album of Dobro instrumentals Dobro (Tacoma).
  • 1974, released second album Blues and Bluegrass (Tacoma).
  • 1977, released album Mike Auldridge (Flying Fish).
  • 1978, released Slidin’ Smoke (Flying Fish) with pedal steel player Jeff Newman.
  • 1978, released “Mike Auldridge and Old Dog” (Flying Fish) with Phil Rosenthal’s Connecticut band “Old Dog.”
  • 1982, released Eight-String Swing album (Sugar Hill) featuring an 8-string resonator guitar.
  • 1989, released “High Time” (Sugar Hill) with Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman.
  • 1990, released Untold Stories album with Tony Rice, Doc Watson and John Starling (Sugar Hill).
  • 1993, formed Chesapeake with Jimmy Gaudreau, Moondi Klein and T. Michael Coleman.
  • 1998, toured with Lyle Lovett.
  • 1999, formed Auldridge, Bennett and Gaudreau with Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin) and Richard Bennett (guitar).
  • 2001, recorded an album with Jim Heffernan and Hal Rugg called The Resocasters (no label).
  • 2007, was presented with an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award.
  • 2012, received the National Endowment of the Arts National Heritage Fellowship – the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts.
  • 2012, died of prostate cancer on December 29.
  • 2014, was inducted into the IBMA’s Hall of Fame as an original member of the Seldom Scene.
  • 2014, the album Three Bells was released featuring Auldridge, Jerry Douglas and Rob Ickes (Rounder). In 2015, this album won the IBMA Award for Instrumental Recording of the Year.