Cleveland believes in "The Lovin' of the Game"
Inspired by The Johnsons' up-tempo cover of the Judy Collins classic, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper put a hard-driving spin on the '70s folk ballad.
"The song is about prospectors and gamblers," said Cleveland, "but for me, the 'loving of the game' has always been loving being a part of the musical community and all that being a musician has brought to me."
"The Lovin' Of The Game" follows the October release of the album's lead single "Sunny Days (Are Comin' Once Again)."
The CD, produced by Jeff White, Sean Sullivan and Cleveland, is Cleveland's sixth studio album. Helping out on the 12 tracks are Billy Strings, Béla Fleck, Charlie Starr, Jeff White, The Travelin' McCourys, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas and Vince Gill.
"People know me as a traditional bluegrass fiddle player, which is what I love to do," said Cleveland, "but this album is more than just the pure tradition. It's a little bit of a departure for me."
Picking up the fiddle at four, at nine, Michael was invited to sit in with Bill Monroe at the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. Soon after, he played the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Alison Krauss, and was hand-picked for the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Bluegrass Youth Allstars before he was 14.
He formed his own band in 2016.
Songs on the CD are
"Thousand Dollar Holler"
"Luxury Liner" – featuring The Travelin' McCourys
"Five Points" – featuring Cody Looper and Ronnie McCoury
"For Your Love" – featuring Billy Strings and Jeff White
"I Wish I Knew Now What I Knew Then" – featuring Vince Gill
"Sunny Days (Are Comin' Once Again)" – featuring Jeff White and Dan Tyminski
Bela Fleck, Cody Kilby and Barry Bales
"Temperance Reel" – featuring Luke Bulla and Tim O'Brien
"Empty Pocket Blues" – with Flamekeeper, featuring Bryan Sutton
"Now She's Gone" – with Flamekeeper, featuring Jerry Douglas
"One Horse Town" – with Flamekeeper, featuring Charlie Starr
"The Lovin' Of The Game" – featuring Flamekeeper
More news
- 02/17/23: Cleveland, Blackberry Smoke's Starr enjoy "One Horse Town"
- 01/20/23: Cleveland teams up with Strings, White
- 02/03/15: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper add new member
- 10/15/14: Cleveland loses a Flamekeeper
- 01/27/11: Cushman joins Michael Cleveland
- 01/24/11: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featured on radio shows
- 02/17/09: Michael Cleveland plots solo release
- 11/19/08: Darrell Webb joins Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
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