In the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas, a love story began not just on stage, but in the soulful heart of country music. Cliff Prowse and Susan Erwin Prowse—known to fans simply as Cliff & Susan—have spent nearly a decade building a powerhouse career that blends deep musical chops with entrepreneurial savvy and an unwavering partnership.
A Chance Stage Meeting Sparks a Musical Bond
In 2016, Cliff and Susan crossed paths during a live performance in Little Rock. Their chemistry was instantaneous—both personally and musically—leading to the launch of their duo and, soon after, an intimate Las Vegas elopement in 2017. Cliff, a child prodigy from Mt. View, Arkansas, mastered instruments like fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and drums and grew up steeped in Bluegrass and rock traditions. Susan, raised on a 250-acre farm in Magnet Cove, was a classical pianist turned pure mathematician before trading radio engineering for a life behind the piano and on stages worldwide.
Electro-Charged Live Performances & Musical Mastery
The duo prides themselves on high-energy, request-driven shows. Armed with piano, fiddle, and guitar, their performances immerse fans in a diverse repertoire—up to 2,000 songs—ranging from country and rock to blues and soul. Their signature song, “Fiddle & Keys,” released in January 2023, became a fan favorite and earned a high-profile appearance on TBN’s Huckabee Show.
Debut Album Success & Accolades
October 2023 saw the release of their debut album, Fiddle & Keys. The record quickly climbed into the Top 40 on the US iTunes Country Albums chart, launching Cliff & Susan into the spotlight. Their cover of “Into the Mystic” also garnered significant acclaim, landing them in the Top 15 country airplay charts and reaching #16 on the UK iTunes Country Chart. As they followed up with their single “Maybe You Should,” the husband-and-wife duo continued riding the wave of recognition from their chart success.
Awards That Celebrate Talent
2025 marked a milestone year for Cliff & Susan. They swept the Arkansas Country Music Awards, taking home Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Album of the Year for Fiddle & Keys. Their earlier achievements included five nominations at the prestigious Josie Music Awards in 2024, held at the Grand Ole Opry—an acknowledgment of their appeal within independent country circles.
Beyond Music: Community, Coaching, and Creativity
Cliff & Susan’s ambition is far-reaching. In 2017, they founded Big Red Dog Productions, a label aimed at nurturing indie artists. Their Yadaloo Music & Arts Festival, launched the same year, earned the “Arkansas Best New Festival” award in 2019 and led them to be named Promoters of the Year. In 2022, they debuted the Entertainers Academy, sharing industry insights and strategies with up-and-coming performers.
Both are also active creativity boosters: Susan with Rainy Ray, an e-commerce boutique selling handmade jewelry, apparel, and art, while their podcast and strategic collaborations with artists like Erin Enderlin demonstrate their multifaceted influence.
Life on Tour and at Home
Touring is in their DNA. Performing over 200 shows a year across at least seven countries, Cliff & Susan maintain an 80/20 balance of high-energy tour life and downtime with their three dogs. They also secured a decade-long residency at Oaklawn Casino during the racing season in Hot Springs, Arkansas—a testament to the industry’s confidence in their staying power.
What’s Next?
Always on the go, the duo has more than 30 songs lined up for release and recently collaborated with award-winning songwriter Erin Enderlin. With each new project, they continue to push creative boundaries and strengthen their position in country music.
Cliff & Susan today stand at a transformational crossroads. From a meet-cute onstage in Little Rock to sweeping awards, launching innovative projects, and riding waves across international venues, they are reshaping what it means to be independent artists. Their story—fueled by romance, instruments, and hard work—echoes the best of the country genre: heartfelt, unapologetic, and full of soul.
As they celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary in July 2025, fans eagerly await what the future holds for this unstoppable duo—Cliff with his six-string mastery and Susan pounding the piano keys, their love driving the music that brings them every encore.
Check out their latest single, “West Virginia” at