Mike Auldridge

Who was Mike Auldridge?

Mike Auldridge was widely acknowledged as a premier resophonic guitar player. He played with The Seldom Scene for many years, creating a fusion of bluegrass with jazz, folk and rock.

Born in Washington, D.C., Auldridge started playing guitar at the age of 13. His main influence through his early years was Josh Graves who also sold him his first Dobro. A 1967 graduate of The University of Maryland, Auldridge worked as a graphic artist for a commercial art firm in Bethesda, Maryland and then for the now defunct Washington Star-News. He did not start playing music full-time until the Washington Star-News folded in 1981.

Auldridge last played with Darren Beachley and The Legends of the Potomac bluegrass band Past bands include Emerson and Waldron, Cliff Waldron and the New Shades of Grass, Seldom Scene, Chesapeake, The Good Deale Bluegrass Band, and John Starling and Carolina Star. Mike was also a member of the touring bands of Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris.

Auldridge worked with Paul Beard to produce the Beard Mike Auldridge Models of square-neck resophonic guitars, including an 8-string version.