Mike Auldridge (December 30, 1938 – December 29, 2012) was an American Dobro player and a founding member of the bluegrass group The Seldom Scene. The New York Times described Auldridge as "one of the most distinctive dobro players in the history of country and bluegrass music while widening its popularity among urban audiences".[1] He also worked as a graphic artist.
Auldridge last played with Darren Beachley and The Legends of the Potomac bluegrass band.[6] Past bands include The Country Gentlemen, Emerson and Waldron, Cliff Waldron and the New Shades of Grass, Seldom Scene (of which he was a founding member), Chesapeake, The Good Deale Bluegrass Band, and John Starling and Carolina Star (which featured three original members of The Seldom Scene). Auldridge was also a member of the touring bands of Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris.
He worked with Paul Beard (Beard Guitars) to produce the Beard Mike Auldridge Models of square-neck resophonic guitars (dobro), including an 8-string version.
Auldridge died on December 29, 2012, one day prior to his 74th birthday, at home under hospice care in Silver Spring, Maryland, after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.[7][8]