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Thread: Picture of bessie lee

  1. #1
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    Hopefully some one can help me out here.
    I'm a Veterinarian and I tend to give the little stray kitties that come through the clinic good bluegrass names (ie Carter, Ralph, Earl, Lester, unfortunately someone renamed Monroe "Sweetie Pie") before they go to their new homes.
    Anyway, Bessie Lee will be coming in for an appointment later this week and I was wondering if someone could post a picture of her.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

  2. #2
    Site owner Scott Tichenor's Avatar
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    There she is on the left, The Carolina Songbird, Bessie Lee.
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  3. #3
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    That was Quick!!!
    Thanks Scott,
    Kirk

  4. #4
    Registered User 45ACP-GDLF5's Avatar
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    Hey Scott,

    Bill has his arm around who? Is that Bill's left you mean, or is that not Bessie lee? When did she pass away and how long was she and Bill married? Thanks!
    Molon Labe

  5. #5
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Bill has his arm around daughter Melissa; Bessie Lee is the blonde bass player. Although she and Monroe never married, he did have a child with her -- later the subject of a paternity suit.

    Too bad we can't get one of Bessie Lee and Melissa "duking it out" outside the Opry in 1954-55...

    Del looks a bit younger, doesn't he?



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  6. #6
    I'm a country mouse Bobbie Dier's Avatar
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    Is that the first "Bluegrass Cruise"?
    I wandered again to my home in the mountains....

  7. #7
    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    And Joe Stuart, I do believe, on Fiddle. And 'Brad'.

  8. #8
    Registered User cooper4205's Avatar
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    "Del looks a bit younger, doesn't he?"

    his martin doesn't though, i wonder if he had good hair back then, too?
    Wes
    "i gotta fever...and the only prescription is more cowbell!!"

    '87 Flatiron A5-JR/'25 Gibson A-JR

  9. #9
    Registered User 45ACP-GDLF5's Avatar
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    Thanks Allen! I presume Melissa is not Bessie Lee's daughter? Is James Monroe Bessie Lee's son with Bill? Sorry for all the questions. I guess I figured Bill was married, I just have never known any details of his personal life. It is spooky how much James looks like his dad. When did Bessie Lee pass away and is Melissa still with us?
    Molon Labe

  10. #10
    Registered User cooper4205's Avatar
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    "I just have never known any details of his personal life."

    you need to read "can't you hear me callin" monroe's bio, a must for any big mon fan
    Wes
    "i gotta fever...and the only prescription is more cowbell!!"

    '87 Flatiron A5-JR/'25 Gibson A-JR

  11. #11
    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    James and Melissa are children from Bill's first wife, Carolyn Brown.
    Melissa is deceased; James is, well.....

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    The bio books are a good read....but be prepared.... as ol' Bill, well lets just say he liked women.

  13. #13
    Registered User testore's Avatar
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    It would be great if anyone could find the daughter they had. As I understand she has never been located. She must only be in her 60's.
    vesselmandolins.blogspot.com

  14. #14
    Registered User cooper4205's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (SternART @ Oct. 31 2006, 14:06)
    The bio books are a good read....but be prepared.... as ol' Bill, well lets just say he liked women.
    you could definately call him a Cat-Daddy
    Wes
    "i gotta fever...and the only prescription is more cowbell!!"

    '87 Flatiron A5-JR/'25 Gibson A-JR

  15. #15
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
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    Here's another...
    Download "Overhead At Darrington" (for free!) here.

    Download "Mangler of Bluegrass" (for free!) here.

  16. #16
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    "Too bad we can't get one of Bessie Lee and Melissa "duking it out" outside the Opry in 1954-55..." - allen hopkins

    I believe the following picture was taken the night after that fight:
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    Cabin Fever String Band, National Pike Pickers

  17. #17
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    Out of respect for his wife Carolyn, Bill never let Bessie play at the Opry using Opry staff bass players when he played there live during the Bessie Lee on bass years. He did fear a cat fight backstage. However being a band member she did record with Bill, travel on the bus(or in those days,car)with Bill and signed autographs and allowed photos like this one to be taken. Their illegitement daughter(Georiga Rose) has long been known and is alive and kickin' in the North Carolina area(where Bessie Lee was from). Bill liked his women rather "porky" too!

  18. #18
    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    I believe there was a fairly recent airing of a show on Campbell Mercer's 'Cumberland Highlanders' where both of James' and Melissa's half-sister and - brother came forward. Or was it at the Rosine festival? I wasn't there, but seem to remember the teevee show.

  19. #19
    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    Here is another picture of Bessie Lee and the BGB.
    Bobby Hicks and Vassar on fiddles, I beleive, or Gordon Terry.
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  20. #20
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    Now that's a fine picture.

    By the way, who is on banjo and guitar in this pic?

  21. #21
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    That's Gordon Terry with Bobby Hicks on fiddles and looks like Bill Price on guitar and Noah Crase on banjo so that puts this photo between 1954 and 1956. I reserve the right to be corrected on this one!

  22. #22
    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    I'll check with Bobby Hicks; he told me once who the other BGB were, but I disremembers....

  23. #23
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    You'll have to show him that photo. Hicks went through many changing of the instruments and Hicks was on banjo and bass too.

  24. #24
    Registered User f5loar's Avatar
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    You'll have to show him that photo. Hicks went through many changing of the instruments and Hicks was on banjo and bass too. The 50's were very unstable for bluegrass boys especially after '56 when Elvis was hot. The banjo picker could be Jim Smoak. His glasses are throwing me!

  25. #25

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    Nice shoes....
    I stepped up on the platform, the man gave me the news;
    He said: "You must be joking son, where did you get those shoes...."

    "Your man doesn't sound so good!!"
    Miles Davis to his drummer (ignoring guitarist John Scofield, who he had just brought in for an audition)

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