Bill Monroe

Monroe was born on his family's farm near Rosine, Kentucky, the youngest of eight children of James Buchanan "Buck" Monroe and Malissa Vandiver Monroe. His mom and uncle "Pen" were very musically inclined, and, early in his life, Bill was gifted with the mandolin to learn from.

They sang early versions of what we know now as Bluegrass. Simple, down-to-earth songs about life and the people in them. There was a lot of harmony in their music, from the choirs at church to singing for dances and get-togethers at various county functions like fairs.

From 1929 to 1936, Bill and various partners played in a lot of states and were regarded as the best Bluegrass group to come out of Kentucky. He continued the old style of Bluegrass for the next 10 years and added the Blue Grass Boys to his act. In 1939, Bill was featured on the Grand Old Opry, direct from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and it gained him nationwide success.

Between 1942 and 1945, Bill changed gears and added some very talented upcoming stars to his group. David "Stringbean" Akeman and Earl Scruggs added the much needed banjo effects to the group. Also added was a guitar player and singer by the name of Lester Flatt, who would, in later years, form a group with Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys and entertain audiences worldwide with their skills.

During 1946, 28 songs were recorded by the Blue Grass Boys; among them was Bill's favorite, "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." So great was this song that it was used on the flip side of Elvis Presley's first single for Sun Records in 1954. Of course, it was used with permission by Bill Monroe, and he later re-recorded the same song after it became more of a success with Elvis doing it.

On January 16, 1953, Monroe was critically injured in a two-car wreck. He and Blue Grass Boys bass player Bessie Lee Mauldin, were returning home from a fox hunt north of Nashville. On Highway 31-W, near White House, their car was struck by a drunken driver. Monroe, who had suffered injuries to his back, left arm and nose, was rushed to General Hospital in Nashville. It took him almost four months to recover and resume touring.

He came back stronger and with more vigor than before. In 1951, he had bought a park in Southern Indiana and, in 1967, organized "Bean Blossom," a yearly gathering of musicians and Bluegrass singers. The event that drew thousands to its stage grew each year and has had an album produced from it.

Bill continued to perform his regular Southern states tour each year where Bluegrass was more prevalent until the 1960's, when he started going to college campus gigs encompassing a brand new generation of Bluegrass fans.

Monroe recorded two albums of duets in the 1980s; the first featured collaborations with country stars such as Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, and the Oak Ridge Boys, while the second paired him with other prominent Bluegrass musicians. A 1989 live album celebrated his 50th year on the Grand Ole Opry. Monroe also kept a hectic touring schedule. On April 7, 1990, Monroe performed for Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and many other artists.

Monroe suffered a stroke in April 1996, effectively ending his touring and playing career. He died five months later on September 9, 1996. Many of the artists that he helped during the early start of their career sang at his funeral. He was very well respected and was dubbed "The Father of Blue Grass" by many.

Thank you, Bill Monroe, for giving the world another huge icon and superstar to look up to and follow. You set a standard for others to measure by.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
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