Sean Watkins, a member of the progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek, released his debut album in 1991. Sean and his sister Sara, along with father and son duo Scott and Chris Thile, formed Nickel Creek in San Diego in 1990. Sean showed virtuosic talent early on, reaching the finals in both mandolin and guitar at the National Flatpicking Championship at the age of 16. In 2015, Sean and Sara released The Watkins Family Hour, the first-ever studio recording of the duo's longtime revue at Los Angeles' Largo; it also featured Fiona Apple and Benmont Tench. Early in 2016, Sean released his fifth solo album, What to Fear. ~ Erik Hage