Chris Thile

Christopher Scott Thile was born on February 20, 1981, in Oceanside, California, into a musical family. He began playing the mandolin at five years old, taking lessons from John Moore. When Thile was eight, his family and the Watkins family formed the band Nickel Creek, performing at bluegrass festivals and leading to Thile being homeschooled. In 1993, at age twelve, he won the mandolin championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. The same year, Nickel Creek released their first album, “Little Cowpoke.” In 1994, Thile released his first solo album, “Leading Off.” In 1997, his family moved to Murray, Kentucky, where he later attended Murray State University as a music major for several semesters. In 2000, he contributed mandolin to Dolly Parton’s bluegrass album “Little Sparrow.”

Thile’s career progressed significantly with Nickel Creek, whose album “This Side” (2002) won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Following Nickel Creek’s announcement in 2006 to stop recording as a group for an indefinite period, Thile formed Punch Brothers the same year, initially called How to Grow a Band. This group released their debut album, “Punch,” in 2008, featuring Thile’s 40-minute suite “The Blind Leaving the Blind,” which addressed his 2004 divorce. In 2012, Thile was recognized with a MacArthur Fellowship, a prestigious ‘Genius Grant.’ He continued to collaborate with renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer, with whom he released “The Goat Rodeo Sessions” in 2011, earning a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2013. In 2014, Nickel Creek reunited for their 25th anniversary, releasing “A Dotted Line” and embarking on a national tour.

From 2016 to 2020, Thile hosted the popular radio variety show “A Prairie Home Companion,” which was later renamed “Live from Here.” This role further expanded his reach, allowing him to connect with a broad audience through music and conversation. Throughout his career, Thile has consistently explored and blended diverse musical styles, from traditional bluegrass and folk to classical and jazz, influencing the contemporary acoustic music landscape. His work with both Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, and his solo projects, demonstrates a continuous evolution and engagement with musical innovation.