Michael Cleveland

Michael Cleveland (born September 18, 1980) is an American bluegrass fiddle player.

Cleveland was born in Henryville, Indiana. He first learned to play violin at a local Suzuki program when he was 4 years old. His skill was recognized at an early age, with appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion and before the United States Congress in his early teens.

After graduating from the Kentucky School for the Blind he performed with various musicians including Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent.

He currently lives in Charlestown, Indiana.

His first solo project on Rounder Records, Fire Holder, won the International Rock Music Association Instrumental Album of the Decade in 2003, and he shared the same award with Ben Jameson in 2005 for Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge. His third award came for his 2006 album Let 'Er Go, Boys!.

Cleveland won the IBMA 2015 Fiddle Player of the Year and the 2010 Instrumental Group of the Year with his band Flamekeeper, for the third year. Cleveland had previously won Fiddle Player of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2018 Cleveland was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for his solo album, Fiddler's Dream, which he won. Three years later, he won the same category with his album The Big Violinist.

In 2007, Cleveland and his band Flamekeeper entertained as part of the Bluegrass Sundays Winter Concert Series in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The group performed at the Sally Creek Music Festival in Thames Centre, Ontario, in July, 2010.

Solo albums

• Sawing On The C String (self released) 1998
• Flame Keeper [Rounder Records] 2002
• Let Er Go Boys (Rounder Records) 2006
• Fiddler's Dream (Compass Records) 2016
• Tall Fiddler (Compass Records) 2019

With Tom Adams

• Live at the Ragged Edge (Rounder Records) 2004

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

• Leavin' Town (Rounder Records) 2008
• Fired Up (Rounder Records) 2011
• On Down The Line (Compass Records) 2014