Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys circa 1947, L-R: Chubby Wise, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
So what is Bluegrass music?
If you ask one hundred different people that question, you will get one hundred different answers. To understand Bluegrass music is to realize and appreciate its musical roots. Bluegrass music's origins come from Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled in the Appalachian Mountain region making their own "mountain and hillbilly" music. This music was passed down through the generations and took on new ideas, instrumentation and direction.
On October 28, 1939 Bill Monroe introduced the world to his style of music by playing "Muleskinner Blues" during the Grand Ole Opry's Saturday night show intent on making his mark in the Country music world,. On December 8, 1945, Bill along with Lester Flatt on acoustic guitar, Earl Scruggs on five string banjo, Chubby Wise on fiddle and Cedric Rainwater on upright bass appeared on the Opry’s Saturday night broadcast. With the combination of Scruggs’ three finger style banjo picking along with Flatt’s rhythm guitar and Monroe’s driving mandolin, many consider that particular configuration responsible for giving Bluegrass music its distinct identity.
The traditional instruments used in Bluegrass include the five string banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass, fiddle and dobro (also known as a resophonic guitar). There are many styles and interpretations of Bluegrass and that is what helps to keep it vibrant and alive. One can relive the magical performances of Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers by listening to the wonderful recordings that are still available. One can also listen to today's fine performers such as Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, and Michael Cleveland at any number of festivals, concerts and music halls worldwide.
The Southwest Bluegrass Club is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of this American music form. The most important element of our mission is exposing and educating the youth of our area to this wonderful musical art form. The club is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization that needs your support. Join the Southwest Bluegrass Club today!
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, L-R: Hunter Berry, Brent Burke, Rhonda Vincent, Mickey Harris, Josh Williams and Aaron McDaris
The contents of this page were originally written by a previous author with editing and additions by Braeden Paul in 2020. If you have any information as to who wrote the previous edition of this article, send a message to southwestbluegrassclubdfw@gmail.com so we can give proper credit.