Michael Burton, IU Soul Revue alumnus (1996–2000) and former Horn Coach (2000–02), is a renowned musician, producer, and saxophonist having performed, toured, and recorded with great artists such as Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, and many more.
Trained in music from an early age, his mother is an original member of the legendary Mississippi Mass Choir, and his father a tenor saxophonist himself. Burton’s distinctive soulful saxophone performances, riveting grooves and vocal productions are the result of this influence and the Jackson, Mississippi culture. Burton earned both his B.A. ‘00 and M.A.’02 in Jazz Studies from the Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of the late professor David Baker.
Currently touring with Patti LaBelle, Michael has also toured with Anita Baker, New Edition, and PJ Morton. He’s also performed with Aretha Franklin, Fantasia, Young Jeezy, Tank, Russell Gunn, and Eric Roberson. He has appeared on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Inside the NBA on TNT, The Steve Harvey Show, Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel. The Atlanta metro area resident has also played keys and saxophone for numerous Tyler Perry Stage and film productions. He can also be seen playing his saxophone in the HBO movie Bessie, NatGeo’s Genius Aretha, Bravo Reality TV Shows The New Atlanta and I Dream of NeNe The Wedding, as well as episodes on the IFC series Brockmire and STAR on FOX.
Burton has recorded with a long list of jazz, soul, pop, R&B, gospel, and hip/hop artists including Jennifer Lopez, Kirk Franklin, Lecrae (Gold Record for Anomaly), Fat Joe, Pitbull, Bria Lee, Will Downing, Deborah Cox, Polow Da Don, Ann Nesby, Jennifer Holliday, Avery Sunshine, Jeff Bradshaw, Candi Staton, Arrested Development, The Brown Boyz, Sho Baraka, Alyson Williams, John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band), Christian Paul, Marcus Johnson, Titus Showers, The Mississippi Mass Choir, LaShun Pace, Latrice Pace, Australian Pop Star Guy Sebastian, UK sensations Paloma Faith and Kaiser Chiefs, and many others. His soulful saxophone can also be heard on 2 Grammy-nominated projects, ”Love Has Finally Come At Last," by Calvin Richardson, as well as PJ Morton’s Gumbo album. Mike was also a featured soloist on Hidden Beach Recordings "Unwrapped Volume 5."
Burton has written and/or produced songs for Alex Bugnon, Terrell Carter, Paula Champion, Christian Keyes, Chandra Currelley, Bria Lee and others. He has released five independent projects, and, in 2012, assembled the Good Times Brass Band, a horn driven band with a funky blend of New Orleans style second line and DC GoGo.
Michael has also served as an Artist in Residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands, providing music education and mentorship to middle school, high school, and college students throughout St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. Mike serves on the Grammy Board of Governors for the Atlanta Recording Academy chapter. He’s also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Burton is a proud family man. He and his wife of 14 years, Razia, have two daughters, Layla Kai and Caden Rae.
