Keys to the Kingdom
Béla Fleck is often called the premiere banjo player in the world.
A New York City native, he picked up the banjo at age 15 after
being awed by the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still
in high school he began experimenting with bebop jazz on his
banjo. He first signed with Rounder Records at the age of 19, and
in 1980 he released his first solo album, Crossing the Tracks,
which ranged from straight ahead bluegrass to Chick Corea’s jazz
opus “Spain.” In 1982, Fleck joined the progressive bluegrass
band New Grass Revival, and played with them for 8 years. He
has made a name for himself on countless solo and ensemble
projects as a virtuoso instrumentalist unbounded by genre.
In 1989 Béla formed the Flecktones, with members equally tal-
ented and adventurous. They made their recording debut in 1990,
playing a “blu-bop” mix of jazz and bluegrass that has been both
critically acclaimed and wildly popular. Béla and the Flecktones
have received 18 Grammy® awards between them, and perform
before over 500,000 people yearly. Béla has received more
Grammy® nominations in more diverse categories than any other
In 2008 Béla returned to Rounder, releasing a Christmas CD with
the Flecktones. In 2009 he released an album that traced his
journey to the African continent in search of the origins of the
banjo, entitled Throw Down Your Heart. Many of Africa’s top
musicians (Oumou Sangare, Toumani Diabate, and
D’Gary) collaborated with Béla as they performed a variety of
music from their native countries.
Banjo music has played a major roll in the creation of the Rounder
legacy and so we are very proud to have one of the instrument’s
most creative innovators as part of our 40th celebration. Welcome
Keys to the Kingdom
Another Morning
Béla Fleck – banjo
Abigail Washburn – vocals on Keys To The Kingdom
Jerry Douglas – Dobro on Another Morning