In 1984, he took the initiative to create a bluegrass ensemble named the Left Hand String Band, inspired by a local area in Colorado.

[3] In 1990, he joined forces with Vince Herman to form the acclaimed jam band, Leftover Salmon, which quickly gained popularity as a dynamic live act.

[3][4] Renowned for his lightning-fast mandolin playing style, Emmit has collaborated with a diverse range of musicians, including the likes of Peter Rowan, John Cowan, and even Neil Young.

In April 2002, he took a solo venture and released his debut album, "Freedom Ride," under the label Compass Records.

In 2007, Emmitt and Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident and Honkytonk Homeslice started a project dubbed the Emmitt-Nershi Band.