Musical Biography

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    "If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" proclaims the 1984 Billboard Hot Country Single #1 song. So who did supergroup Alabama call upon to fiddle the memorable chart topper and the entire Roll On album? West Virginia’s native son, Blaine Sprouse! Three years later, Joe Wilson tapped the Kenny Baker protégé for the National Council for the Traditional Arts' genre-blending Masters of the Folk Violin tour, in which Blaine was to fiddle alongside Baker. However, due to a prior Vanderbilt University commitment he was unable to participate BUT sometimes things work out as they should, for in this case, a sweet sixteen-year-old Alison Krauss was able to step in and I’m certain we‘re in agreement that we‘re all glad she did!

    Blaine's professional career started in October of 1974 when Jimmy Martin offered hm the fiddler position with the Sunny Mountain Boys. A highlight of his tenure with Jimmy Martin came a few months later when the young fiddler toured Japan as a Sunny Mountain Boy.  His tenure continued with James Monroe, Jim and Jesse, the Osborne Brothers, Charlie Louvin and as a fill-in Blue Grass Boy for Bill Monroe. Blaine continued to carve out an impressive niche, performing with both Grand Ole Opry members and young turks of bluegrass, including those who would pick together regularly at Nashville’s world famous Station Inn, the Dreadful Snakes, the Sidemen, Nashville Jug Band, and the Cluster Pluckers, with whom Blaine played for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

    In the late 1980’s, after a close family tragedy, Blaine took some time away from music to fulfill a lifelong desire to complete his education so in May of 1994, Blaine earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.  As life took its twists and turns, in 2009, Blaine began to feel the undeniable urge to play to step up to the microphone when his fourth solo recording, Dogwood Winter, was re-issued as Appalachian Mountain Fiddler and once again his heart answered the fiddlers call as he gladly returned to the stage.  Also a gifted mandolin and guitar player, Blaine is as much at home in bluegrass as he is in blues, swing, jazz and folk BUT bluegrass music is solidified in his DNA. As he stated in a Frets Magazine profile, "Music is my life. I just love to play.”

Fiddle and bow in hand, Blaine Sprouse is here to play!    

    In the most recent years, Blaine has been playing and recording with Peter Rowan and his Bluegrass Band, as well as several other bands, plus as solo, duo and trio ensembles. He is also a regular on the music camp circuit, having taught at the American Festival of Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop in Port Orchard, Washington, the California Bluegrass Association’s Music Camp in Grass Valley, California, the Montana Fiddle Camp, in Monarch, Montana, Cross Plains Texas Bluegrass Camp, and the Walker Creek Bluegrass and Old time Music Camp to name a few. 

    Blaine is in high demand as an instructor of top bluegrass and country style fiddle classes, camps and workshops especially in the style of his mentor, Kenny Baker.  He is available for online personal one-on-one instruction, Zoom Master Bluegrass Fiddle Workshops and other streaming live appearances online on Facebook and Instagram.  Additional platforms will be added as they become available.  Please sign up for updates on these appearances and learning opportunities, all online.

    Please contact Blaine directly via email, ebsprouse@gmail.com to discuss your private, public, or corporate event, as solo or group.