Sad news regarding Earl Scruggs

[Gail Hester]

I’m thinking of our friend Chris Scruggs today, an amazing young man who adored his Grandpa. My heart goes out to Chris and the rest of the family.

[Psyberbilly]

I would not be here in the Cafe had it not been for Earl . His banjo playing was my " gateway drug " to that intoxicating concoction known as bluegrass music . My first stringed instrument was the 5-string and I found my way to guitar and mandolin from that .
As I grew older what began to impress me even more than his virtuosity , was the phenomenon of how a person raised in a very conservative culture in the Carolina mountains and steeped in an extremely traditional musical heritage came to be so open minded and welcoming about different kinds of music . Earl's embrace and acceptance of young people's music , electric or otherwise , made it cool and acceptable for young people to do the same with his . A weaker person with less bluegrass credentials would have probably succumbed , but he soldiered on and was a fine ambassador for bluegrass music !

Pick Away Earl !

[Joel Glassman]

How amazing to develop a way of playing and have it become THE way to play...

[Santiago]

It's hard to think of many other musicians who have had such an impact on both their chosen instrument as well as the genre of music they choose to perform than Earl Scruggs.

Very well said Mandopete!

[Santiago]

That fact that we're praising a banjo player here says enough about the man.

[Marcus CA]

Imagine that chase scene in Bonnie and Clyde without Earl's banjo blazing away. When I saw that film, I was immediately and forever entranced by Faye Dunaway and Earl Scruggs.

I was lucky enough to see the Earl Scruggs Revue in 1973 or so. That was truly a memorable show, and as others have mentioned, very different from what most (all?) of his peers were doing at that time. There aren't many who blew open musical genres in both the '40's and the '70's. He was one for the ages.

[coletrickle]

This is a nice feature that has a different and important view into the legacy of Earl Scruggs: http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvi...K14qU.facebook

[helichuck]

This was a very memorial day that I got to spend a couple of hours with Earl in his living room in 2008. Thanks Earl

[Bluegrassrules]

I had the very good fortune and luck to hear him play and then meet him in 08 or 09 at Bean blossom, he was traveling with a young player, a grand niece perhaps. He signed my mandolin case and was very gracious. RIP Mr. Scruggs

[T Little]

The old Flat and Scruggs TV show is available on Netflix as an instant watch option. Some really great tunes and so relaxed and pleasant while doing the show.

[swampstomper]

The old Flat and Scruggs TV show is available on Netflix as an instant watch option. Some really great tunes and so relaxed and pleasant while doing the show.

As Eddie Stubbs ALWAYS says when introducing F&S, "Often imitated, never equalled" and that goes for the showmanship, professionalism, and just plain down-home fun, as well as the musicianship. I love that clip posted by our moderator -- Earl can't get that descending part right the first time, he fakes through that break, then by gosh he goes back and gets it right -- smiling all the way. One thing that he brought to the banjo -- very different from Uncle Dave or other comic banjoists -- was the straight face, barely moving the body while the fingers were as economically as possible working the strings. Planting the little finger was part of that.

[journeybear]

At the gig tonight with the Cajun/country/bluegrass band a table full of folks from Kentucky was sitting close by us. So Fearless Leader decided we should do "Blue Kentucky Girl" for them. Then she had the bright idea that I should follow that with "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." OK, fine, a bit early in the night for me to do any singing, but off we went. When we were done, I dedicated that to the memory of Earl Scruggs and said a few words about how much he had done with and for music. Then Fearless Leader started up with this song, which though we have been doing it now and then for years, I did not know was from Flatt & Scruggs. Live and learn. Heck, at the risk of embarrassing myself a bit, I didn't even know Earl was still alive until he died - that's how little I am connected to bluegrass on a day-to-day basis. This isn't really their high point, and I think the harmonies kind of overwhelm what is actually a very nice song, but I am glad to have been able to give Earl Scruggs a bit of a send-off.

As I grew older what began to impress me even more than his virtuosity , was the phenomenon of how a person raised in a very conservative culture in the Carolina mountains and steeped in an extremely traditional musical heritage came to be so open minded and welcoming about different kinds of music . Earl's embrace and acceptance of young people's music , electric or otherwise , made it cool and acceptable for young people to do the same with his .

Excellent point, Thinking back on this, it seems to me that Earl really "got" some of the key aspects of the 60s cultural revolution - exploration, experimentation, freedom and inclusion. Just because he didn't grow his hair or indulge in other outward trappings of the movement doesn't mean he wasn't hip, and clearly understood the essence of what was going on.

BTW & FWIW, as fate would have it, the first clue on Jeopardy tonight was about "The Beverly Hillbillies."

[mandolirius]

The CBC show "As It Happens" did a nice tribute piece to Earl tonight (Mar. 29). They interviewed Noam Pikelny, who spoke articulately and with a great deal of passion about Mr. Scruggs:

http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/

Go to the show date Mar. 29

[greg_tsam]

Rip.

[zoukboy]

I teach a history of Rock and Roll class and was letting my students know about this today when it occurred to me that since he started at the age of four, Earl Scruggs played for 84 of his 88 years, the better part of nine decades. And then it dawned on me that since he was born in 1924 (and started playing in 1928), he actually played the banjo in the 1920s, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s, and '10s! He played in TEN decades! Amazing.

Then I looked around for other musicians who played as long and came across Andres Segovia, whom I saw at Symphony Hall in Boston in 1981 at the age of 88. Another musician who played in ten decades. There are a number of similarities between the two... might be an article in there somewhere...

So thank you, Mr. Scruggs, for the music and for the dignity of your example.

[Willie]

Playing in 10 decades, what a record....

Let me see now, when I have played in 10 decades it will 2054, I will be much older than 88 though...

Willie

[JEStanek]

I had a drive way moment as I listened to a rebroadcast from 2003 of Terry Gross (Fresh Air) interviewing Earl.

Jamie

[journeybear]

Played in ten decades and he didn't even live a full nine decades. Master of time as well as music.

[Wayne Bagley]

Earl Scruggs - The Bluegrass Legend - Family & Friends (1972)

I hope you all enjoy this video.

[Bill Clements]

And then it dawned on me that since he was born in 1924 (and started playing in 1928), he actually played the banjo in the 1920s, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s, and '10s! He played in TEN decades! Amazing.

Truly amazing. His contributions to American music will long be remembered.
RIP.

[Jim]

Heard the news at the local thursday night Pickin' circle. RIP Earl

[Joel Glassman]

...And then it dawned on me that since he was born in 1924 (and started playing in 1928), he actually played the banjo in the 1920s, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s, and '10s! He played in TEN decades! Amazing.

Jazz violin player Claude Williams was also in that category.
When he died in 2004 at 96, he was the last musician to have
recorded Jazz in the 1920s.
http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprof...illiams_c.html

[zoukboy]

Jazz violin player Claude Williams was also in that category.
When he died in 2004 at 96, he was the last musician to have
recorded Jazz in the 1920s.
http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprof...illiams_c.html

I didn't know that, even though Kansas City is my hometown. Thanks for posting that, Joel!

[Ivan Kelsall]

The American University Radio station (WAMU 88.5) did a tribute to Earl Scruggs programme yesterday.The presenter of the programme,Gary Henderson,stated that possibly Earl's greatest gifts were being able to carry the melody all the way through a tune & his huge skill in accompaniment.I've thought exactly the same thing for donkey's years.That's the reason i quit learning every instrumental i got to hear, & decided that for me,'accompaniment' was IT !.It is indeed an art in itself,& on Banjo,personally,i can't think of anybody who comes close to Earl Scruggs in doing it. I was listening to the 'Foggy Mt.Breakdown' CD a couple of days ago,most of the tunes on there were recorded back in 1948/'49 & 50.The song "Why Don't You Tell Me So" just blew me away again. All the way through Earl's highly improvised break,he keeps the melody line spot on. Awesome !,
Ivan

[ash89]

growing up in charlotte, north carolina
in the late 50's and 60's i had lots of exposure
to earl's music, mainly local radio and tv..

without that and a few of the contemporaries,
we wouldn't be as musically rich as we are..