For over 25 years, Mike Waldron has performed with some of the biggest names in the music industry. After playing in numerous bands in his home state of Michigan and attending The Guitar Institute in Hollywood, Mike moved to Nashville & quickly landed a job as lead guitarist with multi-platinum recording artist Martina McBride. After 3 years with Martina, Mike went on to do tours with Lee Ann Womack, Tanya Tucker, Mindy McCready, & Linda Davis, among others.
Since moving to Nashville, Mike has not only toured the world, but has performed in several music videos and hundreds of high-profile TV appearances. These include multiple performances on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, and The Grand Ole Opry, just to name a few. In addition to extensive touring in the U.S., Mike has also toured Europe seven times including the 1994-1995 Garth Brooks world tour with McBride. His international resume’ also includes a 2003 USO tour to play for the troops in Kuwait and Qatar.
From 2002 - 2014, Mike toured and was lead guitarist for multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning recording artist Lee Ann Womack. He was also her musical director from 2005 - 2014.
In 2012, Mike recorded with Jon Bon Jovi for the Al Pacino/Christopher Walken movie Stand Up Guys. The song “Not Running Anymore” was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
He also played on many tracks for the ABC TV show Nashville with artists Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack, Connie Britton, & Will Chase.
In 2016, Hillary Scott & The Scott Family enlisted Mike to play on their #1 album “Love Remains”. The project was produced by Ricky Skaggs and features Steven Curtis Chapman and Bruce Hornsby, among others.
The album has gone on to win several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Album.
Mike has played on hit records by Hillary Scott, The Hunter Brothers, High Valley, RaeLynn, Mickey Guyton, I Am They, Dean Brody, Recklaws, Chad Brownlee, Jade Eagleson, James Barker Band & others. He most recently played guitar on Luke Combs #1 single “The Kind Of Love We Make” as well as the Luke Combs/Miranda Lambert duet “Outrunning Your Memory”.
Mike is involved in many facets of the music business. He is an in-demand studio musician & producer, and is regularly called upon to be session leader on recording sessions. Mike has played on over fifteen thousand demos, albums, & television shows. He consistently works with Nashville’s top songwriters and artists.
Mike is married to Grammy Award winning singer/ songwriter Marcia Ramirez. They have 3 children: Derek Wells, Bunny Nunn, & Sam Skorik.
Check out Mike’s recent appearance on the Studio Musician Academy podcast here.
MIKE WALDRON HAS PLAYED GUITAR FOR…
Lee Ann Womack
Martina McBride
Tanya Tucker
Mickey Guyton
High Valley
The Ink Spots
The McCarter Sisters
Trace Atkins
Chris Ward
Mindy McCready
Linda Davis
Marcia Ramirez
Brice Long
Cheryl White
Angeleena Presley
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Ray Driskoll
Shane McAnally
Claudia Church
Deborah Allen
John Berry
Kim Parent
Kellie Coffey
Kylie Harris
Cledus T. Judd
Dan Colehour
Britt Savage
Hillary Scott
Christopher Cross
Emily Ann Roberts
Chris Young
Raelynn
Louise Mandrell
Jo Dee Messina
Clare Dunn
Clint Black
Jason Sellers
Dani Flowers
Susan Haynes
Bobby Bare
Jamie McLaughlin
Shane Owens
Jade Eagleson
Ty Herndon
Travis Collins
James Barker Band
Dean Brody
I Am They
Veronica Ballestrini
Jolie Holliday
Rick Huckaby
Surrender Hill
Madeline McDonald
Chris Hennessee
Miranda Lambert
Willie Nelson
Luke Combs
Jon Bon Jovi
Joe Nichols
Agabus
Matt Hammitt
Hayden Panettiere
Charles Esten
Connie Britton
Will Chase
Chris Carmack
Aaron Tippin
Kalsey Kulyk
Emily Shackelton
Jonathan Kingham
Victoria Banks
Jenny Talia
Charlie Pate
Grand Funk Railroad
Jeremy Montgomery Parsons
Ron Pope
Logan Brill
Chris Burke
Chad Brownlee
The Reklaws
Hunter Brothers