Mike Walton (GA)

Mike Walton’s journey into music began at the age of 10 when he began playing alto saxophone. Inspired by the music he heard in the soundtracks of his favorite movies, Mike joined the band in middle school. In his junior year in high school he began to realize that he wanted a career in music. He began taking private lessons from educator and jazz saxophonist, Kenyon Carter who introduced Mike to jazz music and other saxophonists who would become life‑long influences in his musical growth.

Mike attended Valdosta State University where he studied with Carey Brague. He also began studying writing and arranging with David Springfield. While in Valdosta, Mike began playing in the local bars sitting in with rock and funk groups before forming a fusion band with his friends. He gained much experience and began gigging in his third year at VSU including forming his own quartet and performing weekly at a local restaurant. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2010.

After some time off for gigging, he enrolled at Georgia State University for his master’s degree in jazz studies and continued to hone his skills under the direction of Mace Hibbard as well as Gordon Vernick and Kevin Bales. While attending GSU, Mike Walton had the opportunity to perform with internationally known artists Eddie Daniels, Donny McCaslin, Duffy Jackson and Joey Defrancesco, and regularly attend the weekly jam sessions and performances of local artists. Mike graduated with his masters in May 2014.

Mike Walton resides in Atlanta GA where he performs regularly with the Joe Gransden Big Band and Russell Gunn’s Blackhawk Quintet as well as working on his own projects and writing original music.