It being blind necessarily a disability? This fiddle player gave me chills.

@TheHorse (238298)
Walnut Creek, California
June 17, 2018 7:58pm CST
One of the highlights of my two-day trip to the Grass Valley Father's Day Bluegrass Festival this weekend was hearing a fiddle payer named Mike Cleveland play with his bluegrass quintet. Mike Cleveland is totally blind, and his playing combined speed with nuance in a way I'm not sure I've heard before. His playing actually gave me chills, which is rare for me when a gospel tune with good lyrics in not involved I'll attach a picture I took yesterday of Michael Cleveland (right) and his band. I'll see if I can find a link to some of his music. How was your weekend?
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper performing "Lee Highway Blues" at Scenic City Roots live from Track 29 on 7.11.2013
11 people like this
12 responses
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Jun 18
It nice to hear good music.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
It's still out there. After playing with and listening to so many good musicians up in Grass Valley, I had to laugh when I heard the first rap "song" blaring from some car on I-80, West of Sacramento. @FourWalls will recognize the quotation: "It's a big old goofy world."
4 people like this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse Wow, he is incredible!
2 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86654)
• United States
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse -- that's a Prine, I mean "prime" quote!
4 people like this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
18 Jun 18
Hi Colin. Wonderful. Glad to know you had a great time. Will listen when I get back. See you.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
The track I chose is not the best. But it shows his skills. Amazing to me that he's blind.
2 people like this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
19 Jun 18
@TheHorse You are right. Very talented person in spite of his disabilities. Great respect.
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
18 Jun 18
I liked it from 2.25 onwards..earlier part is only amusing.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
It shows his skill, but it's not a great tune. It's what I could find.
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse Exactly. I hesitated to say that. Skill is different from melody. Only playing a few notes perfectly and slowly can result in beautiful music.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
@vandana7 Bluegrass mucisans often just go "faster and harder." But this fella had nuance in spades. I wish I was able to find a representative sample.
2 people like this
ultraman cosmos
@id_peace (17036)
• Singapore
18 Jun 18
It is not a simple task to do it with sight and let alone without sight.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502407)
• Italy
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse It is a reality, but I feel so sad for those who cannot see.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
@LadyDuck I do too. But it's what they know.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
@LadyDuck might be right, in that blind people aren't distracted by visual images.
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86654)
• United States
18 Jun 18
I've known Michael Cleveland for 20 years. He was a kid fiddling at jam sessions at the IBMA conference in the mid-90s. Yeah, he's been that good for that long.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
Did you get to meet him? I saw him strolling with his mandolin player yesterday and thanked them both for a good show. They were both gracious, but the conversation didn't go much beyond that.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
I used to jam with a younger gal named Molly Tuttle. Now she's "big time." I listened to part of her set yesterday--it was good.
3 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Jun 18
That guy is great and the music is good.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
Thanks for checking it out. I wonder if being blind is advantage in this case.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jun 18
Well, being blind doesn't preclude musical talent... Blind Boys of Alabama, Ray Charles, Jeff Healey, Andrea Bocelli...
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
In some ways, it might enhance musical talent.
1 person likes this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
18 Jun 18
Wow! I listened to a few videos and that man can fiddle.
1 person likes this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse He's good!
Orange Blossom Special ~ Michael Cleveland ~ BEST VERSION EVER ! ~ Over 5 Minutes !!
www.youtube.com
Michael had a question and answer class during the festival and here he is playing some tunes for the gathered crowd. A great fiddler for sure...and I love h...
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
He's really impressive. Maybe I can find a better song to use with my post.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
@1hopefulman I listened all the way through. Great version.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502407)
• Italy
18 Jun 18
He has a great talent, blind people develop incredible skills, they are not distracted by their sight.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
Maybe that's what gave me chills as he was playing. He was SO familiar with the neck of his instrument. It wasn't like playing was something he had learned. It was just a part of him.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502407)
• Italy
18 Jun 18
@TheHorse I have seen how blind people can perfectly be familiar with the instruments they use.
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24005)
• United Kingdom
18 Jun 18
Oh my what a talented group. I love it! Such talented guys!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
They were special to watch.
anamika
@anamika161088 (11866)
• India
18 Jun 18
He is talented.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238298)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jun 18
He's a very special player. I can't believe I'd never heard of him.
1 person likes this
Icydoll
@Icydoll (36713)
• India
18 Jun 18
It's very nice to hear music.. awesome talented.
1 person likes this