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Mike Esposito |
I first met Mike Auldridge in 1974. He was playing one of the first Seldom Scene gigs along with The Newgrass Revival and Charlie Monroe! They were playing on a New Jersey drag racing strip (Island Dragway). I had just got my first Dobro (a 60D). I did not know how to tune it , nor that I needed finger picks! I had been playing bottleneck style but not lap style.
Mike took the time to get me started and how to tune the Dobro. Three years or so later I was playing shows on the same bill as Mike. We got to be friends. He was always so kind to me. He was my idol . I'll never forget when he would pull up to The Waterloo Bluegrass Fest. in his 280Z sportscar and pull out his Dobro. My heart would be racing. The Seldom Scene were fantastic and Mike's Dobro tone was some of the best I ever heard. Sometimes we would pick backstage . He showed me some slants and stuff and he always said he loved how I played! I showed him a few bluesy things.
Whenever I made a CD I would always send it to him to see what he thought. One time he thought I sounded nervous on one tune. Looking back he was so right!
Mike's first solo record changed it all for me. The Dobro was so sweet and pure. One of my favorites still to this day is Dobro Island. He put his right hand way up the neck and it gave it such a sweet sound. I saw him play many times and he came to my show one time. Once they were inviting people up to play and they asked me. I refused (I was a little afraid of John Duffey). The last time I saw Mike was 2 summers ago. He looked thin and frail but he still sounded great! I miss him and I am forever grateful to him for changing my life with the Dobro. I have a letter from him saying I was one of his favorite Dobro players. Mike brought the Dobro to new heights and he did it with class and style. I love him always.
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