Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. (Photo courtesy of Whetland Music Organization.)
Meet The Blind Fiddler Up For A Grammy
Michael Cleveland is the most awarded fiddler of all time and he was born blind and mostly deaf.
At age four he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life… play bluegrass.
He got his start at the Kentucky School for the Blind classical program that wanted to teach him how to play the violin.
“I didn’t know much about the violin, but I knew a LOT about the fiddle.”
And that training has gotten him very far in life.
He is up against the legend himself Willie Nelson, as well as Sam Bush . . . Mighty Poplars . . . Billy Strings . . . and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway.
Michael shared some really interesting thoughts on being a musician.
“When I play music, things get better . . . You must feel it. Obviously, everybody wants to play perfectly . . . but really, my favorite musicians are the ones that make you feel something.”
There is also a documentary about his life available on YouTube.
