Michael Cleveland is one of Indiana’s greatest living musicians and one of the most celebrated fiddlers in the history of bluegrass.
Born in Henryville, Indiana in 1980, Cleveland has been blind since birth and is partially deaf. Cleveland began playing fiddle at age four, and his remarkable talent quickly led him to the national stage. As a teenager, he performed on the Grand Ole Opry and played alongside bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe and Doc Watson.
Over his career, Cleveland has earned twelve International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddler of the Year awards, a Grammy Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship — one of the nation’s highest honors in folk and traditional arts.
On June 27, Cleveland and his band Flamekeeper will headline the Indiana Fiddlers’ Gathering in Battleground, Indiana. The performance is meaningful for Cleveland — he first appeared at the gathering as a young musician and credits the event’s former music coordinator, Dave Samuelson, as a major influence on his artistic development.
Cultural Manifesto’s Kyle Long recently spoke with Cleveland about his remarkable career and his lifelong connection to the Indiana Fiddlers’ Gathering.
