Kyler is an old-time musician whose journey has taken him across the United States, although he proudly calls Southwest Virginia his home. An award-winning fiddle and banjo player, he also plays guitar and enjoys flatfoot dancing. His musical style is shaped by the sounds of Round Peak and Southwest Virginia, with influences from players past and present, including Richard Bowman, Riley Baugus, Eddie Bond, Benton Flippen, Fred McBride, and Rafe Brady.

Kyler’s connection to the Blue Ridge runs deeper than performance. He served as the “Music Ranger” at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, VA, where he helped interpret and share the region’s rich musical heritage with visitors from around the world. He also worked at County Sales in Floyd, VA, immersing himself in the recorded legacy of old-time and bluegrass music. His commitment to preserving and passing on tradition includes work with the Galax JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program, studied and taught place-based physical and cultural geography of the southern Appalachian region at Virginia Tech, and presented old-time music programs at the Music Center.