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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Mike Guldin

Mike Guldin first picked up a guitar at age 15, and he’s spent the last 45+ years turning that spark into a road-tested blues career built in roadhouses, clubs, festivals, and theaters. A guitarist and vocalist with a deep respect for tradition and a serious love of groove, Guldin’s sound blends Chicago blues grit, Southern rock fire, and Memphis/Stax soul into a style his band proudly calls “Good Ole Butt-Shakin’ Music.”

Guldin’s influences run wide but always point back to the blues. He draws heavily from legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, and the Three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie. At the same time, he pulls energy from modern icons and guitar heroes such as The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, and The Rolling Stones. Layered into that guitar foundation is a deep love of classic R&B and soul—Sam & Dave, Booker T. & the MG’s, Al Green, and the unmistakable grooves of Stax and Hi Records—along with the “Southern fried” Muscle Shoals spirit found in artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Outlaws, and roots-minded crossover greats such as Delbert McClinton and Lee Roy Parnell. Put it all together and you get Guldin’s signature combination: stinging, expressive guitar and soulful vocals that feel made for a loud room and a moving crowd.

Mike leads Rollin’ & Tumblin’ (often billed as Mike Guldin & The Tumblers), a tight, high-energy band known for bringing the party without sacrificing musicianship. The group has been two-time finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the prestigious annual event hosted by The Blues Foundation. The current lineup features Mike Guldin (guitar, vocals), Tim Hooper (keyboards, vocals), Bill Sharrow (bass, vocals), and Billy Wear (drums). Together they deliver a show that’s as danceable as it is deeply rooted, moving easily from blues burners to soul-soaked shuffles with the kind of chemistry you only get after years on stage.

Over the years, Guldin has opened for and shared billing with an impressive range of artists, including Sam Moore, Delbert McClinton, Levon Helm, E.G. Kight, Tab Benoit, Tommy Castro, Teresa James, The Nighthawks, Little Milton, Shemekia Copeland, Debbie Davies, Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women, Michael Hill and the Blues Mob, John Sebastian, and Jimmy Vivino. That list reflects what audiences already know—Guldin is a true working bluesman who can fit any room, any bill, and any crowd, while still sounding unmistakably like himself.

In the studio, Guldin has built a catalog that matches his live reputation. His debut album, Caught Between the Blues and a Heartache, arrived in 2003, followed by Roadhouse Rhythm in 2005, a release featuring special guests including E.G. Kight, Tommy Castro, members of Delbert McClinton’s horn section (Terry Townson and Don Wise), Denise NeJame, and James Pennebaker. Blues Revue magazine reviewer Tom Hyslop summed up the spirit perfectly: “It all sounds good, and fun is at a premium!” In 2019, the band captured their stage power with Live at The Sellersville Theater.

Nearly two decades into his recording career, Guldin delivered a major statement with Tumblin’, released on Blue Heart Records in partnership with bassist and producer Bill Sharrow at Black Cat Studio in Spring Mount, Pennsylvania. The album features 13 diverse originals co-written by Guldin, Sharrow, and respected Philadelphia-area musicians including Mikey Jr., Roger Girke, Will Hodgson, Craig Thatcher, and Kevin Vannoy. The project also includes standout guest contributions from artists such as Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker, Lewis Stephens, Kevin Vannoy, and Luis Mora—adding extra muscle and color without ever losing the band’s core identity.

In 2023, Mike Guldin & Rollin’ & Tumblin’ returned with The Franklin Sessions, also on Blue Heart Records, with publicity by Blind Raccoon. The album was born from a desire to capture a more organic, in-the-room recording vibe—less polish, more truth, more sweat. Alongside the core band, the sessions feature an all-star lineup of guests, including Grammy winners Kevin McKendree, Yates McKendree, and James Pennebaker, plus David Santos, The McCrary Sisters (Regina, Ann, and Alfreda), Mikey Junior, and The Philly Funk Horns. The result is a record that sounds like what Guldin has always aimed for: blues with soul, grit with groove, and music that makes you move.

Mike Guldin doesn’t just play the blues—he lives in it. And when Rollin’ & Tumblin’ hits, it’s not just a performance. It’s a full-body experience.

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