As the sands of time erode the rocks that are America’s musical treasures, one name keeps cropping up: Norman Blake. Anyone familiar with him knows he’s never strayed far from his birthplace of Chattanooga, Tennessee - in nineteen hundred and thirty eight (as Norman might say). Nor has he strayed musically, focusing on preserving a form of American Music that might otherwise be lost.

He quit school at age 16 to play mandolin in a band, and music has been the focus of his life ever since. Norman Blake, born March 10, 1938 in Chattanooga, grew up in Sulphur Springs and Rising Fawn, Georgia.

His first band, The Dixie Drifters, played the Tennessee Barn Dance on KNOX Radio Knoxville. Later, they went to WDOD Radio, and from there to WROM-TV in Rome, GA where they stayed until 1956. Norman then worked with banjo player Bob Johnson as The Lonesome Travellers. They joined with Walter Forbes in making two records for RCA. In 1959, Norman left those groups to perform with Hylo Brown and the Timberliners, although he continued as a duet with Bob Johnson in making several guest appearances on WSM's Grand Ole Opry.

At that time, Norman was drafted and stationed in the Panama Canal as a radio operator. There, he formed the Fort Kobbe Mountaineers, a bluegrass band in which Norman played the fiddle and mandolin. They were voted Best Instrumental Group of the Caribbean Command, with Norman voted Best Instrumentalist Upon returning to the United States, Norman taught guitar to as many as 150 students weekly, and played the fiddle in a country and western dance band three to four nights a week. He also made frequent trips to Nashville to play recording sessions, and for a time, played as a member of June Carter's road group.

In 1969, Norman moved to Nashville to do the Johnny Cash Summer TV Show, in which he played guitar and dobro as a member of Cash's group. Along with country and western sessions, Norman recorded with Bob Dylan on the Nashville Skyline album. He was a member of Kris Kristofferson's first road group, playing guitar and dobro, and did a seasonal tour with Joan Baez playing mandolin, guitar, and dobro. Norman recorded with both groups. He left Kristofferson to join and record with John Hartford's Aeroplane Band. After that group dissolved, Norman toured with John Hartford as his accompanist for a year and a half, during which time he recorded his first solo album, Home in Sulphur Springs. Home in Sulphur Springs is listed by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as one of the top ten Bluegrass and Country recordings in their 100 Essential CD’s issue. He also received a GOLD RECORD for his participation on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's legendary Will the Circle be Unbroken album.

After a nine-month tour with the Red, White and Blue(grass), he left to pursue his solo career. In 1972, Norman met Nancy Short when her group ‘Natchez Trace’ opened for him at an Exit/In show.

Norman and Nancy married and recorded and toured together from 1974 through 1996. In the 1990’s, Norman and Nancy’s four releases all received Grammy nominations in The Best Traditional / Folk Recording category: Blind Dog, 1990; Just Gimme Somethin’ I’m Used To , 1993; While Passing Along This Way , 1995 and The Hobo’s Last Ride, 1996 . Other recording projects included collaborations with Tony Rice, Michelle Shocked, Waddie Mitchell and Steve Earl. In 1998, Chattanooga Sugar Babe, Norman’s first solo recording in many years was released and was also nominated for a Grammy. National Public Radio celebrated his 60th birthday with a featured interview on All things Considered, and the prestigious Mel Bay Company published his first song book featuring 38 original compositions.

In 1999, in addition to his solo touring, Norman has three new recording projects: one with the legendary June Carter Cash on her new recording, along with friends Marty Stuart, Rodney Crowel and Johnny Cash; a duet project, Norman Blake & Rich O’Brien “Appalachia To Abilene - Be Ready Boys” and a new solo effort “Far Away, Down On A Georgia Farm.”

Onder: Norman Blake met Don Edwards