Mike Walton is native of Perry GA who was drawn to music at an early age. Listening to soundtracks from films such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Jurassic Park and Superman, Mike joined the band in middle school where he began learning saxophone at the suggestion from his mother. He first discovered jazz when he joined the middle school jazz band and began listening to the works of Duke Ellington. However, it wouldn’t be until his junior year in High school that he was introduced to John Coltrane via his band teacher, Mr. Kenyan Carter when he gave him a copy of “Bluetrane”. “Once I heard that record I knew i had to learn how to play like Coltrane”. 
   After graduating Perry High school Mike Walton went on to earn his bachelor’s in Jazz. Performance and then later record his masters at Georgia State University in jazz pedagogy. Since then Mike has lived in and around the Atlanta area making a name for himself in the Atlanta scene. He has been seen sharing the stage with artists such as Joe Gransden, Russell Gunn, Lil John Roberts, Jimmy Cobb and the late Malcolm Jamal Warner. 
  Mike Walton currently teaches music and band at Imhotep Academy where he has spent the last 3 years building a music program from scratch. Here, he hopes to continue to share his love and passion for good music and like Coltrane, continues to make others happy thru music.