MICHAEL CLEVELAND NAMED 2018 FIDDLERS'
JAMBOREE BLUE BLAZE AWARD WINNER
Press Release
Award-winning fiddle player
Michael Cleveland has been
named the 2018 Blue Blaze
Award Winner for the Smithville
Fiddlers’ Jamboree &
Crafts Festival coming July
6th & 7th, 2018. This most
recent honor will be added to
a rather impressive collection
of accolades among his musical
peers. Cleveland has won
more IBMA awards than any
other fiddle player including
10 wins for Fiddle Player of
the Year, six wins for Instrumental
Recorded Performance
of the Year, and fronts their
5-time Instrumental Group of
the Year. On March 30th, Micheal
will be inducted into the
National Fiddler Hall of Fame
in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together
with Flamekeeper members
Josh Richards (guitar), Nathan
Livers (mandolin), Jasiah Shrode
(banjo) and Tyler Griffith
(bass), Cleveland makes his
way around the country performing
and delighting audiences,
while leaving them
with jaws dropped in complete
amazement. Cleveland will be
accepting the Blue Blaze Award
on Saturday, July 7th, 2018
during the Smithville Fiddlers’
Jamboree & Crafts Festival at
5pm followed by a mini-concert
by Michael Cleveland &
Flamekeeper.
“Michael Cleveland embodies
what we look for in
a musician when choosing a
recipient for the Blue Blaze
Award,” said Sam Stout, President
and Coordinator of the
Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree
& Crafts Festival, “He started
performing at the Jamboree as
a young boy, and grew his talent
to an impressive career in
bluegrass music. The purpose
of the Blue Blaze Award is to
recognize a group or individual
who keeps the embers of bluegrass
music glowing for future
generations. Michael Cleveland
certainly does that, and more.
He is an inspiration to all of us.
We invite the public to come
out and support Michael, while
enjoying the best that bluegrass
has to offer.”
Cleveland has a very loyal
fan base, along with an amazing
story. Michael was born blind,
along with many additional
health complications. He has
endured over 20 reconstructive
surgeries including brain surgery.
In addition to these challenges,
he lost 80% of his hearing
in his left ear. But Michael
Cleveland is not a ‘glass half
empty’ kind of guy. He prefers
to focus on his goals, his love
of music, and being the best in
Healthy Living | Spring Issue | 2018 5
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