| Bill Monroe is known around the world as the "Father | | | | music and continue to perform it to this day. |
| of Bluegrass Music." He created a specific type and | | | | Even though Monroe's band had always had the |
| sound of music that has garnered a dedicated | | | | ability to stir and excite the audiences, it was the |
| following of both fans and players alike. | | | | addition of Earl Scruggs on the 5-string banjo that |
| Most knowledgeable bluegrass music fans would say | | | | really set this new form of music on fire. Until |
| that the genre began in 1939 when "Bill Monroe and | | | | Scruggs developed the 3-finger style of banjo picking |
| the Bluegrass Boys" first appeared on the Grand Ole | | | | the instrument was usually played in a frailing or |
| Opry. Monroe and his group quickly became one of | | | | clawhammer style. But the new 3-finger method |
| the most popular touring bands of their time. Monroe | | | | added a whole new dynamic to the genre. Scrugg's |
| came from Kentucky, known as the Bluegrass State, | | | | banjo picking gave Monroe's music a hard-driving, |
| and he used the term in the name of his band. It | | | | powerful sound and level of energy that just wasn't |
| wasn't long before the public started referring to this | | | | there before. |
| new genre of music as "bluegrass music". | | | | In some of the old recordings of their live shows you |
| Although Monroe had significant success performing | | | | can hear the audiences cheer with excitement when |
| his new music across the country, many believe that | | | | Scruggs kicks off a fast, hard-driving tune on his |
| the true, classic bluegrass sound never really | | | | banjo. Monroe died September 9, 1996 and left |
| developed until 1945 when he was joined by Lester | | | | behind a musical legacy that continues to grow in |
| Flatt on guitar, Earl Scruggs on the 5-string banjo, | | | | popularity every year. Having given birth to a new |
| Chubby Wise on fiddle and Howard Watts on the | | | | genre of music that has enthusiastic devotees around |
| upright bass fiddle. This talented group of musicians | | | | the world he certainly deserves the title "Father of |
| formed the basis and set the standard for thousands | | | | Bluegrass Music. |
| of bluegrass bands to follow that love this style of | | | | |