A celebrated instrumentalist who has worked with legendary figures in country, bluegrass, and folk, Norman Blake is best known as a flatpicking guitarist, though he's also proficient on other stringed instruments including mandolin, dobro, and fiddle. Steeped in traditional styles, Blake is known for his clean, unpretentious picking, emphasizing melody over technical flash, and he made a reputation as a sideman and studio musician before becoming a solo artist. Blake made his headlining debut with 1972's influential Back Home in Sulphur Springs and collaborated with Tony Rice on 1987's Blake & Rice. 1996's The Hobo's Last Ride, recorded with his wife and frequent collaborator Nancy Blake, focused on material from the 1930s; 2004's The Morning Glory Ramblers documented the revival of interest in his work; and 2021's Day by Day was a set of tunes Blake cut live in his home studio.