Mike Walbridge

Mike Walbridge: Tuba - Mike Walbridge was born in Los Angeles and was exposed to classic jazz at an early age via his father’s records. He took up the trumpet in high school but was persuaded to switch to the Sousaphone by the band director because of the abundance of trumpet players in the school band.

Upon graduation from school, Mike pursued jazz music as a profession and became a charter member of the Chicago Stompers. When the Stompers disbanded, Mike worked with Lil Hardin Armstrong’s band for a long run at the historic Red Arrow jazz club in Stickney, IL. After his discharge from military service in the late 1950’s, Mike joined the Original Salty Dogs Jazz Band. He remains a member of the band to this day. 

In addition to working with the Salty Dogs, Mike has worked with numerous bands including those of Georg Brunis, Art Hodes, Eddy Davis, Turk Murphy, Bill Reinhardt, Ted Butterman and Ernie Carson, as well as leading his own band the Chicago Footwarmers. He is a longtime member of Mike Bezin’s West End Jazz Band and the Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band. 

Mike has recorded extensively with the Salty Dogs. In addition, he has appeared on recordings with such jazz giants as Albert Nicholas, Art Hodes, Floyd O’Brien, Clancy Hayes, Turk Murphy, Wally Rose, Bob Helm and Ernie Carson. In recent years, Mike has appeared as a guest artist with Jim Cullum’s jazz band on the popular “Riverwalk, Live from the Landing” public radio series. He resides in Wheaton, IL.

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