Skip to main content

Happy Birthday, Bill Monroe

br />
Today is the 100Th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe, the indisputable Father of Bluegrass.


Monroe started early, playing the mandolin with his family group at a very young age. After his parents died young, he lived and played with his 'Uncle Pen'. He formed and played in several groups during his young adulthood, but it wasn't until 1945 that he began to get attention.


In 1945, Bill Monroe added a young banjo picker, Earl Scruggs, to his band, the Blue Grass boys. Other members of that original group were Lester Flatt, Chubby Wise, and Howard Watts. Together, they produced a new genre of music known as bluegrass.


The good folks at SiriusXM 61 Bluegrass , where my radio is permanently parked, have proclaimed 2011 the year of Bill Monroe. They will be playing Monroe's music all day today in honor of his birthday. I'm loving it!

Comments

  1. StacySeptember 13, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    Bill Monroe was BOSS!! Gonna go dig out my bluegrass CDs ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    Of course you know I love his music! I did not know it was his b-day though : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. lil red henSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Next to southern gospel music, bluegrass is a favorite of mine.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Janet,September 14, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    How I remember Flat and Scruggs. They used to sing the theme song for Martha White flour.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee.  It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures.  We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything.  Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.
Post a Comment
Read more

Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie.  It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house.  After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there.  I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then.  I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important.  It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things.  We call it Holy Smoke.  Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan.  It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t
Post a Comment
Read more

Cedar Trees in Cemeteries

If you ever wander in old cemeteries, and I know many of you do, you are bound to see some cedar trees. The tradition goes back to the early days of the United States and even earlier  in Europe.  Cedar trees were not always used, but some type of evergreen trees were planted because they were a symbol of everlasting life.  Some  Cherokees believed that cedars contained powerful spirits, including the spirits of the departed buried beneath them. Perhaps because they are known as burial trees, there are many superstitions that surround cedars.  My grandmother told us in no uncertain terms that if we planted a cedar tree, we would die when it was large enough to shade our graves. Some others are: Never transplant a cedar tree; it will bring bad luck. If you transplant a cedar and it dies, you will die shortly. Planting a cedar tree in your yard welcomes poverty. Some say Christ was crucified on a cedar tree, and will bring bad luck if you burn it. If a cedar tree com
1 comment
Read more