Olivia Smiley

I'm Olivia Smiley, a 19-year-old fiddler/singer/songwriter, and in 2005 released my first, solo, all acoustic, bluegrass album. I began my musical journey as a classically trained violinist at the age of four and not long after became interested in other styles of music. I began competing in fiddle contests throughout the Midwest in my early teens, and just in the past three years, I have obtained the title of Kentucky State Fiddle Champion and Governor's Cup winner and have been the Ohio State Fiddle Champion two times. In addition, I am also a two-time winner at the Indiana State Championships, three-time fiddle champion of the Indiana State Fair, and was the runner-up at the National Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, two times. For the past two years, I have ranked among the top ten fiddlers in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship held in Nashville, Tennessee. At the age of 14, I fell in love with the traditional sounds of bluegrass music and have been hooked ever since! For the past four years, I have been a member of bluegrass bands in Indiana and Kentucky, and after the release of my album, was given rave reviews in the top three bluegrass magazines: Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Music Profiles, and Bluegrass Now. Check out the articles on my blog! Distinguished musicians, and some of my greatest influences, are featured and joined me on my solo project. Michael Cleveland, four-time International Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddle Player of the Year, contributes on the mandolin and harmony vocals. Jeff Guernsey, former fiddler for country star Vince Gill, adds his impeccable guitar playing as well as lead and harmony vocals to this CD. A member of the Wildwood Valley Boys, Brian Leaver plays banjo while Lauren Guernsey, member of Louisville's Storefront Congregation, adds bass. As a team, this group of Indiana musicians has introduced a new, innovative approach to traditional bluegrass music.