Atlanta, Ithaca and University of North Texas

Michael Waldrop grew up in Atlanta, Georgia listening to the radio and popular music.^[3] He showed an aptitude for drumming along with the music which lead to parents purchasing him a small drumset at age 4.^[4] He later moved to Ithaca, New York in 1970. In 1974 he heard and met Buddy Rich who made a tremendous impression on Waldrop. His first music studies were with Richard Lajza, Waldrop also studied privately with Bill Youhass and Gordon Stout.^[3] During his time with Stout in Ithaca, Waldrop studied marimba and vibraphone. By the age of 17, Waldrop started playing professionally on drum set and within a year was with fusion guitarist David Torn.

After graduating high school, Waldrop was accepted to the University of North Texas College of Music. He studied with Robert Schietroma, Ron Fink, Ed Soph, Henry Okstel, Kal Cherry, Michael Carney, and Gregg Bissonette.^[3] Waldrop performed with notable jazz artists such as Dan Haerle, Michael Cain, Bob Belden and Jay Saunders. After completing his undergraduate work at UNT, Waldrop returned to the New York area and performed extensively. He played in Caprice Fox’s group for almost a year and freelanced with a long list of others. At this time Waldrop was to make an important artistic connection with fusion guitarist Jimi Tunnell.^[3]

Memphis, Chicago, international touring

In 1987 Waldrop started work on a master's degree in jazz performance at the University of Memphis where he studied with jazz pianist Gene Rush. In the Mid-South he performed with Phineas Newborn, Della Reese, Frank Gambale, Eliane Elias, Randy Brecker, Kathy Kosins and Marvin Stamm. In 1989 Waldrop recorded on the soundtrack to the movie Christmas Vacation. During this time he also studied with drummer Keith Copeland.^[3] Waldrop later taught jazz percussion and jazz theory at the University of Memphis. He continues to perform and record with the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta and has a close musical relationship with composer/arranger Jack Cooper.

After completion of his master's degree In 1990 Waldrop relocated to Chicago and worked strictly as a performer in the Chicago metropolitan area and playing on ads for the likes of Pillsbury and others companies. He performed with a long list of prominent jazz artists in Chicago to which included saxophonist Mike Smith and jazz violinist Johnny Frigo. In early 1992 Waldrop accepted a position with the international touring company of 42nd Street. He spent much of 1992 and 1993 performing in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands with that show.

Professional work since 1993

Waldrop accepted a Doctoral fellowship to the University of North Texas College of Music in 1993 and completed the coursework for the Doctor of Musical Arts in 1996; the degree was completed in 1999 with a focus on marimba.^[5] During Waldrop's second tenure in Denton, Texas he played, toured and recorded with the Grammy nominated UNT One O'Clock Lab Band. He can be heard on the recordings Lab 94, Standard Time and Fifty Years.

Since 1993 Waldrop has performed on drum set and multiple percussion instruments with a lengthy roster of artists including Jon Hendricks, Tim Ries, Rich Perry, Greg Gisbert and Wayne Horvitz. In 1999 he toured the Middle East with internationally acclaimed composer Kamran Ince. From 1999–2004, while in Colorado, he was Principal Percussionist with the Grand Junction Symphony as well as director of the Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra.^[1] From 2006-2009 he served as the drummer for the Bob Curnow Big Band; Waldrop's drumming is heard on the Curnow's critically acclaimed CD The Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays - Volume II.^[6] Waldrop currently works extensively in the Northwest region of United States as both a commercial, classical and jazz artist.^[7][8][9] The Michael Waldrop Big Band was featured at the international Jazz Educator's Network(JEN) conventions in JEN 2016 (Louisville) and JEN 2019 (Reno).

Origin Records recording artist

Since 2014 Waldrop has been a recording artist for Origin Records. Most notable are his two CD's with Origin entitled Time Within Itself and Origin Suite.^[10] Both recordings have been reviewed internationally in Down Beat, Jazz Journal, the IAJRC Journal as well as many other periodicals; both were fixtures on the JazzWeek radio airplay charts in 2015 and in 2018.^[11][12] Waldrop plays drum set and vibraphone on the two releases.^[10]

As leader or featured artist

• 2021 Time Frames (Origin Classical)
• 2019 Triangularity reissue with Bonus Tracks - Michael Waldrop (CD Baby)
• 2018 Origin Suite - Michael Waldrop (Origin)^[20]
• 2015 Time Within Itself - Michael Waldrop Big Band (Origin)
• 2002 Triangularity - Michael Waldrop (Rhythmworks)

As sideman or composer

• 2021 Songs of Berlin - Berlin Jazz Orchestra (GAM)
• 2014 Welcome to Stoutland - Gordon Stout and Friends (Resonator)
• 2011 The Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays: Vol II - Bob Curnow Big Band (Sierra Records)
• 2011 Live At The Levitt Shell - Jazz Orchestra of the Delta (JOD)
• 2010 The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper - Jack Cooper (Centaur)
• 2007 Voices (Select-O-Hits)
• 1997 Fifty Years - North Texas Jazz (UNT Jazz)
• 1994 Lab 94 - University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band (UNT Jazz)
• 1994 One O’Clock Standard Time: Remembering Gene Hall - University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band (UNT Jazz)

As instrumentalist

• 1989: Christmas Vacation (Warner Bros.)
• 2016: Avista: 2016 Way To Save - ad campaign