Mike Auldridge

Gordon Titcomb · Post by **Gordon Titcomb** » 17 Aug 2010 7:38 am

I recorded a CD several years ago when I was touring in Arlo Guthrie's band. The title track: The Last Train became a book ( out on Sept 14).

I was just remixing the track as I had to edit the original song to allow for 3 additional verses that were required by the publisher ( Macmillan) to make it a book.
Mike Auldridge did the dobro work on this tune , I was sitting trying to re-mix the tune and found that I spent about an hour just listening to his fills ...
I just LOVE his playing...Very Tasty indeed.
The original track was used for the books video trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfJzSCF8tBg

The new version will be released in the late Fall.
Mike playing is so tasty!!!!

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 17 Aug 2010 8:36 am

Mike my favorite!
Great job on the whole thing.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 17 Aug 2010 9:20 am

My favorite too. Also my private mentor over the years. I wore out his Takoma record learning how to play Dobro back in 1973. Had the chance to meet/hang/play with him at one of the past St. Louis conventions. He's a jewel.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 17 Aug 2010 10:14 am

And oh, he plays steel too......with pedals. His brother Tommy is also an accomplished steel player, must be in their genes....

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 17 Aug 2010 3:28 pm

Mike is indeed the King. Another "Master of Touch and Tone".

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 17 Aug 2010 4:49 pm

Was that Mike Auldridge on the Vern Gosdin gospel album? Very sweet.

Allan Jirik · Post by **Allan Jirik** » 17 Aug 2010 6:31 pm

Larry the Legend. When I played dobro Mike was the S$&#. Brother Oswald was perfect but Mike was... a step beyond that.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 17 Aug 2010 7:26 pm

It is in the genes. His uncle Ellsworth played dobro for Jimmie Rodgers!

Mike is the gold standard for tone on the dobro, much like Emmons on the steel.

Love Mike's 8-string dobro playing too, including a great version of Buddy Charleton's "Almost to Tulsa"

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 17 Aug 2010 7:48 pm

Mike Auldridge is the best of the best. Great emotive player. A real artist.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 17 Aug 2010 8:41 pm

Mike's playing is superb on Patty Loveless' "Mountain Soul II".

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 18 Aug 2010 1:56 am

My brother got a Beard Goldtone a few years ago. In Dallas in '08 we spent a lot of time with Mike and found him to be a truly nice guy. He played things a dobro that I didn't think possible. He was more than willing to share his knowledge.
He should be a "Hall of Famer".

John DeBoalt · Post by **John DeBoalt** » 18 Aug 2010 4:25 am

Mike was one of my first resonator guitar influences. Anyone wishing to enjoy his virtuosity, and versatility on all 3 types of steel, dobro, lap,and pedal should get their hands on the Chesapeake CDs if possible. I'm not sure if they're still available. I saw the group in concert once. Mike just went back, and forth between the instruments at will, and it was really fun to watch. Too bad the group no longer exists, as it was truly a great showcase for Mike. John

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 18 Aug 2010 6:14 am

Mike is a friendly, gracious guy with class.

Paolo Ercoli · Post by **Paolo Ercoli** » 18 Aug 2010 6:44 am

Yes, he is one of the greatest.
This year, at the end of october, I will have the chance to meet him, finally, 'cause I'm going to attend the Resosummit in Nashville : http://www.resosummit.com/resosummit2010.html

I think it will be great.
So happy to see all them together in one time.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 18 Aug 2010 7:06 am

I will be joining Paolo in Nashville for my first Resosummit (after having to miss the first three) and I am looking forward to finally being able to meet Mike in person.

Like Jim Pitman, I wore out the first Mike A. Takoma album in the mid-70's when I first took up the dobro, along with his second album (Blues & Bluegrass) and some of the Seldom Scene albums.

Josh Graves and Brother Oswald (and James Burton - an award winning dobro player, a fact of which many folks aren't aware) of course were big influences back then but it was Mike that tipped the scales and really made me want to learn the instrument. Then I discovered a bit later the young Jerry Douglas on the first solo albums by David Grisman and Tony Rice and after that it was mostly about Mike & Jerry for me.

I have the CD version of both of those first two Mike A. albums combined into one and it still gets a regular turn in the rotation in my car's CD changer.

I remember being blown away when I first heard Blues & Bluegrass back then and one of the tracks was Mike's take on "Killing Me Softly," the huge hit for Roberta Flack. It was for me literally the first non-bluegrass or non-country instrumental that I had ever heard that featured the dobro as a lead instrument and the light bulb went on in my head that the dobro should not be stereotyped as a "twang music" only instrument any more than piano is only for classical music.

And Gordon, that is a great tune, thanks for posting it. After my father left the Marines at the end of WWII and he and my mother were newly married, he worked for the Jersey Central Railroad for several years before changing careers to make more money. He would comment every so often that working for the railroad was the best job he ever had and he couldn't understand why this country didn't do as Europe and Japan has done in developing a high speed rail system in keeping our railroad heritage intact and it being a fine way to travel.

Robert Brown · Post by **Robert Brown** » 18 Aug 2010 9:25 am

Met Mike at a steel show, that Jim Thompson put on, in Washington Pa. a few years ago. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. totaly blew my mind with his playing. His autograph is on my resonator guitar, along with Josh Graves,and Josh's nephew Tim Graves. I'll never part with that old Regal,as it was held,played, and signed, by three of the best. Bob

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 18 Aug 2010 6:44 pm

Mike is my dobro hero. His playing is what hooked me as a teenager. Started playing when I was around 15. A super nice guy who's down to earth.

Tony

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 18 Aug 2010 9:27 pm

Mike does not get the credit he is due !

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 19 Aug 2010 5:00 am

HERE is some credit!!

John H. McGlothlin · Post by **John H. McGlothlin** » 19 Aug 2010 6:15 am

Here is Mike doing an all time favorite from an Album by The New Shades of Grass http://picosong.com/yvc/

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 19 Aug 2010 6:41 am

My..That goes back to, 1969??

Jim Hartley · Post by **Jim Hartley** » 19 Aug 2010 7:03 am

Robert B

I don't know if it's the same show, but I had the honor of playing drums for Mike at the Washington show in April,"09. Wow, what a player, and true gentleman also. I just got a call from Jim Thompson the other day about the "11 show. Maybe we can get Mike back on that one.

Jim

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 19 Aug 2010 7:20 am

Here is the 2009 Mike Auldridge!

Robert Brown · Post by **Robert Brown** » 22 Aug 2010 4:48 am

Jim Hartly,Yep, that was the show. Alan Coldiron on bass, none better. I'd sure like a return appearence by Mr. Auldridge on Jim's next show, and Carco Clave also. Maybe you and I can meet and greet. Bob

Jim Hartley · Post by **Jim Hartley** » 22 Aug 2010 9:15 am

Hey Bob,

That would be great, make sure to say hi. The show will be the 15th, 16th and 17th of April, I'm sure Jim will post all the details as the time nears. By the way, you're so right about Alan. He has become a very close friend and one of my very favorite rhythm section partners, even if he does play backwards.

See ya there,
Jim

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Mike Auldridge

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