Mike Burch

Mike Burch, began his drumming career at the early age of three. A self taught player, who spent the majority of his teen age years in hip “swing “bands and progressive country acts traveling around Texas. He emerged on the national scene in 1986 when he was recruited by the successful vocal group “Mason Dixon” and from there a stint with star search winner Ty Herndon. By the late 80’s, Mike and family, had relocated to the great state of Louisiana, and had embarked on what would prove to be the cultural journey of a lifetime. There, he seemed to be able to saturate himself in a type of Cajun lifestyle that’s enjoyed mostly in the gulf-south.. Cajun and zydeco rhythms would ultimately alter and enrich his whole approach and perspective on drumming, and create a warmer appreciation for its people, foods, and tradition. Once settled in, he set out on what he affectionately refers to as the “Accordian Years”. He writes “ When I first started doing session work there, I was introduced to several very influential musicians in the area., and was taken under their wings, I guess you could say. For some reason, they all liked being around me, and wanted me to know about the music of Louisiana because they could tell ,that I genuinely cared. Since moving there, thanksgiving week of 1988, I’ve been to probably over 40 countries of the world. That’s an accomplishment I would have never experienced in Texas.
 

Greats like Buckwheat Zydeco, Jo El Sonnier, Zachary Richard, were calling and I remember being so flattered. They were pretty difficult projects though, because I didn’t speak a word of French!” The most successfully documented recordings however, spawned 3 extraordanary yrs. with the great Wayne Toups and Zydecajun . Moving forward a little, the fall of 1995 would prove to be quiet a turning point, as Mike was asked to join the now legendary Louisiana country group “ River Road” and about a year later was sighned to Capitol records Nashville and had his first of four top 40 singles on country radio. This involved intense touring with numerous television appearances and opening slots for some of the biggest in the business, as well as performing for more than 30,000 at a concert event in Japan. The band garnished a large fan base and received endorsement deals with many major instrument manufacturers. Mike adds, “ Its no secret that one of the best things about doing lots of session work, is the relationships you develop with the other musicians that are hired to play, and on quiet a few occasions, I had started showing up on the same recording projects with the “ World Class “ slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth.” Their mutual respect led to Mike joining his group in the winter of 2001. The band toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as performed a string of shows in Finland, and at the end of that tour, Mike recorded a series of tracks for “The Road We’re On”, a fabulous collection of songs, which ended up being nominated for a Grammy in 2002. The summer of 2007 saw Mike onstage performing with likes of Eric Clapton (crossroads guitar festival dvd) and Jimmy Buffett”s “Year of Still Here tour”. The most recent cd, “From The Reach” by Sonny Landreth, contains some of Mike’s best work to date. It features Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Vince Gill, Eric Johnson, Dr. John, and Jimmy Buffett and spent 4 weeks at #1 on the billboard blues charts.

Below is a modest listing of artists Mike has played, toured, and(or) recorded with…..Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Rogers, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, Vince Gill,T Graham Brown, Pam Tillis, Marcia Ball, Bobby Charles, Johanna Guissner, Patti Griffin, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford,John Jorgenson, Dr. John, Arlen Roth, Albert Lee, Cindy Cashdollar, Brian Stoltz, River Road, Beausoleil, Wayne Toups, Zachary Richard, Evangeline, CC Adcock, Buckwheat Zydeco, Lil” Buck Senegal, Bruce Daigrepont, Jo El Sonnier, Mason Dixon, Marc Broussard, Hunter Hayes, Brityn Lotz, Nadira Shakoor, Warren Storm, T.K. Hulin, G.G. Shinn, Charlene Howard Fosse, Ann Savoy, Kami Lyle, Shannon Mcnalley, Don Rich, Parker James, Angelique Hagge, Rene’ Joli Bordelon, Shea Cromian-Smith, Nick Myers, Danny Johnson, Gloryhole, Psychometry, Polecat Creek, April Verch, Walter Jr., Cathy Martin, Suzi Aycock, Richard Leboueff, Keke Bourque, Sean Vidrine, Damon Troy, Dustin Ray, The Fabulous Boogie Kings, Luther Kent, John Smith, Did Lee Squat, Three Fold Flame, Grant Cook, Crazy from the Heat, D. L. Menard, Aldus Roger, Dewey Balfa, Walter Mouton, Johnny Allen, Lil’ Alfred, Joe Douglas, Dana Duhon, Blaine Mayard, Kim Brasso, Larry Habetz, David Egan, and Alexadra Grant.