Mike Seeger

American Folk Musician and Multi-Instrumentalist

Mike Seeger (Born: August 15, 1933 in New York City, New York Death: August 7, 2009 in Lexington, Virginia) was an American folk singer, musician (autoharp, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, mouth harp, mandolin, dobro) and folklorist. Inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame in 2018. And also The Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Received six Grammy nominations. He devoted his life to singing, playing, and recording old-time and bluegrass music. Produced the first bluegrass long-play album: American Banjo Tunes & Songs in Scruggs Style (Folkways, 1957); Co-founded the New Lost City Ramblers (1958); Recorded numerous live performances of seminal first-generation bands in the 1950s. Wrote one of the first definitions and explanations of bluegrass (1959). Advocated for bluegrass bands to perform at the Newport Folk Festival.