Chris Thile

Chris Thile is merely 1/3 of our Nickel Creek, but what a third it is. Chris not only can wield his precious mandolin with all his might to make loverly music, but he becomes the mandolin and transports himself into the song.

Born on the 20th of February in the year 1981, Chris was raised in Oceanside, California, where he first discovered his lust for the mandolin. He was but two years old when his parents took him to hear a local bluegrass band. Little did they suspect the reaction that followed. When they returned he offered them all the money he had (consisting of maybe a few dollars in quarters) if they'd buy him a mandolin. For three years following his new discovery he begged and pleaded for a mandolin. They finally gave in when he was just five-years-old, changing his life forever by purchasing him a mandolin of his very own, and well worth the purchase it was. In addition to his shiny new instrument, he also took up lessons with the one who played the first mandolin he ever heard, John Moore. Since then there are few days when he can say he hasn't practiced, performed, recorded, or composed his beloved music.

It was at the young age of 8 he met two children by the names of Sara and Sean Watkins at "That Pizza Place" where their parents took them to a weekly bluegrass show. They soon began to collaborate and eventually perform, forming the band that would soon make history as Nickel Creek.

Chris's first album, which was also Nickel Creek's first album, was titled "Little Cowpoke." His second album, a solo album titled "Leading Off," was released in 1994 when he was just 13. 3 years later he released his second solo album, "Stealing Second." It's probably safe to say that this was the last time an album with the name "Chris Thile" attached would ever not sell out of stores the day received. In the years that followed Nickel Creek gained a magnanimous amount of success and having 2/2 albums go gold within 2 years of release.

Total Albums
(as of May 2005)
NICKEL CREEK
Little Cowpoke (1993)
Here to There (1997)
Nickel Creek (2000)
This Side (2002)
Why Should the Fire Die(2005)

SOLO
Leading Off (1994)
Stealing Second (1997)
Not All Who Wonder Are Lost (2001)
Deciever(2004)

OTHER
Into the Cauldron (2003, with Mike Marshall)

How to pronounce Chris's last name:
Thee-lee

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Chris Thile

We would like to thank these websites:
www.nickelcreek.com
www.greenandgray.net
www.nickelcreekfans.com

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