|
|
 |
 1939 |
 |
|
September 13, 1911 — September 9, 1996
|
 |
     |
|
Father of Bluegrass
 |
 |
| Bill Monroe and his brother Charlie (inset) laid the foundation for Bluegrass music during the mid-1930s as the Monroe Brothers. During the 1940s, with his ever-evolving Blue Grass Boys, Bill Monroe refined and defined the Bluegrass sound for which he was inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame. | |
Bill Monroe was born into a musical Kentucky family on September 13, 1911 and started playing the mandolin at the age of 10.
By age 16 he often accompanied his uncle Pendleton's fiddle- playing at local dances, and developed a love for Stringband music.
Besides his Uncle Pen, another musical influence in Monroe's early years was black guitarist and fiddler, Arnold Schultz, who Monroe credits as inspiring his infusing the Blues into Stringband music.
In 1934 Bill and his brother Charlie formed a musical duo and performed throughout the southeast as the Monroe Brothers. They created a regional sensation with their fast playing, high clear harmonies, and Bill's virtuosity on the mandolin. Unknowingly they were laying the foundations for new style of music that would soon be known as "Bluegrass." In 1938, however, the brother act disbanded because of musical differences.
In 1939 Bill formed a backing group and auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry. The act was accepted and on October 28, 1939 Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys made their Opry debut with a high-energy version of Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues." The audience loved what they heard and demanded three encores.
During the 1940s Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys continued to revolutionize stringband music by playing everything very fast in non-traditional keys with incredible virtuosity. The songs were original, and the musicians even looked different wearing cowboy hats.
By pushing old traditions into new directions, Bill Monroe created an exciting new sound that attracted both traditional and contemporary audiences. It also attracted many talented musicians.
But even more important, Bill Monroe's music reminded America of its Country music heritage. For this he was inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.
In 1986 the US Senate passed a resolution recognizing Monroe's unique contribution to American culture.
In 1988 his "Blue Moon of Kentucky" was adopted as the state song of Kentucky.
After a remarkable career as "pioneer, creator and teacher," Bill Monroe died on September 9, 1996.
Through his vision, virtuosity, and stubbornness, Bill Monroe carved out a new music genre — Bluegrass — and is lovingly remembered as "The Father of Bluegrass Music."
Copyright © 2003– 2008 Gary Wilcox Studios Incorporated.
Please credit:
The Online Roots of Rock
.Featured Sites .
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
Other Recommended Sites
|
|
Bill Monroe: The Father of Bluegrass Music
bio / lyrics |
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
|
Can't You Hear Me Callin'
|
The Bill Monroe Reader
|
Come Hither, Go Yonder
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Monroe Songbooks Available Online
|
| Monroe Intrumentals — Todd Collins, transcriber |
.Bluegrass Titles .
|
Bluegrass Odyssey
|
Rural Roots of Bluegrass
|
The Bluegrass Reader
|
Bluegrass:
A History |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Other Bluegrass Titles Available Online
|
| Bluegrass: An Informal Guide — by Richard D Smith |
| Grass Roots : An Illustrated History of Bluegrass and Mountain Music (Paperback) — by Dave Rubin |
| Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar — by Russ Barenberg |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
The Country Music
Hall of Fame
Bill Monroe
1936-1994
Bill Monroe and his
Blue Grass Boys
Other Bill Monroe Recordings Available Online
Bill Monroe: 16 Gems (Sony/Columbia / 1 CD / 16 tracks)
Bill Monroe: At His Best (Hollywood/DNA / 1CD / 12 tracks)
Bill Monroe: Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord (Uni/MCA / 1 CD / 10 tracks)
Bill Monroe: Live In Concert (Silver Eagle / 1 CD / 13 tracks)
Bill Monroe: The Early Years (1945-1949) (Vanguard / 1 CD / 14 tracks)
Bluegrass (1950-1958) (Bear Family / 4CD box set / 109 tracks)
Bluegrass (1959-1969) (Bear Family / 4CD box set / 120 tracks)
Bluegrass (1970-1979) (Bear Family / 4CD box set / 105 tracks)
Click on any link below for more information, or to order online
The Father of Bluegrass Music
Bill Monroe
The Online Roots of Rock ™
