Fiddler Michael Cleveland is the reigning King of the Mountain when it comes to bluegrass fiddling. The six-time Fiddler of the Year, Cleveland, who made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry at age 13, is a powerful and creative instrumentalist whose bluesy fiddling echoes past greats like Chubby Wise, Benny Martin, Howdy Forrester and Scotty Stoneman. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, the two-time Instrumental Group of the Year, is one of the hottest bluegrass bands in the country. With Cleveland, Jesse Brock (a superb, under-rated mandolinist), Darrell Webb (guitar), Jessie Baker (banjo) and Marshall Wilborn (bass), Flamekeeper possesses as much instrumental firepower as any band in bluegrass. A resident of Charleston, Indiana, Cleveland has recorded three albums—Flame Keeper, Let ’Er Go, Boys and Leavin’ Town, with the current band—and a duet album with banjo player Tom Adams, Live at the Ragged Edge; all but the most recent Leavin’ Town have won the Instrumental Album of the Year award.