Mike Williams - Trumpet

Mike Williams Signature Trumpet Top
Inner Diameter: 0.642
Outer Diameter: 1.069
Cup: Shallow Modified V
Bore: 27
Backbore: Mike prefers the TJ backbore (sold separately)

"I have played Warburton Mouthpieces exclusively since 1984. They have provided me with all of the comfort that I have ever needed to accomplish my tasks! This mouthpiece allows me to produce a full, brilliant and vibrant sound in all registers with the precision I need, especially for lead playing! I have used the SAME cup on every studio recording, live recording, live performance, since 1985!"

- Mike Williams

Mike Williams was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 30, 1957 and began playing the trumpet at age 13. His love for the trumpet continued through college where he received the degree of Bachelor of Music Education at Northwestern State University in
Natchitoches, Louisiana. There, he studied trumpet with Dr. J. Robert Smith. He then became Director of Bands at his alma mater, Northwood Jr-Sr High School near Shreveport. He taught for three years there and also performed with the Shreveport
Symphony Orchestra as well as the Rapides Symphony and the Longview Symphony during this time. 

In 1983, Mike halted his band directing career in order to pursue a career as a full-time professional trumpet player. He moved to Denton, Texas and attended the University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University). For two years he played Lead Trumpet in the famed One O’Clock Lab Band directed by Neil Slater. He also studied trumpet with Keith Johnson and during the summers he studied with the legendary Don (Jake) Jacoby. During this time he recorded four albums with the One O’Clock
Band which includes a tribute to Stan Kenton, With Respect to Stan, and Live in Australia.

After three years at UNT, he traveled with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Two months later, he received a call from Frank Foster, jazz legend and leader of the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, who asked him to join the CBO as the Lead Trumpet Player. In September of 1987, he joined the band and performed with them for 31 years.

Some of the highlights of being with the Basie Band include a Columbia Artists tour with both Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstein (on the bus) for two months. With the Basie Band, he has recorded twenty-six CD’s, seven of which were Grammy nominations, and
three of those were Grammy winners. He has performed in all fifty United States and in fifty-seven countries. With the CBO, he has performed in Jazz Festivals in many countries, and has also been broadcast in numerous live television and radio shows across the
world.

Mike teaches privately and performs as guest soloist and clinician with universities and high schools across the nation and abroad. He has made recordings as the Lead Trumpet Player with several other artists including Charles Tolliver and Steve Wiest. He freelances
across the USA and is the Lead Trumpet Player for the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra in Kalamazoo, and the Rhythm Society Jazz Orchestra in Detroit.

Mike has been Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at the University of Arkansas, Monticello, for several years and is currently one of the professors of the Master of Music in Jazz Studies degree offered there, a low residency and internet program.

Mike is a Warburton Signature Performing Artist, playing on his Warburton 3311 MW model trumpet exclusively. He is also a Warburton Mouthpieces artist, and has played Warburton mouthpieces exclusively since 1984. Mike resides in Lapeer, Michigan with his wife, Amanda, and their two children, Wyatt and Stella.