Bill Monroe bustin some moves on the subway

[FodForThoought]

I'm about 20mins into (what so far as been) a really great Bill Monroe documentary. I just got to a part thats showing scenes of Bill dancing, which is awesome. I'm somebody who's been listening to Jamgrass and just starting to get exposed some of the characters of "true" bluegrass. Now of course I've heard a ton about Bill, but I was always under the impression that he was super uptight (dare I say cranky), and wouldn't be the kind of personality to be dancing with kids on a subway train (watch 18:14). I still have well over an hour of the documentary and I'm sure I will have a better idea of Mr. Monroe when I'm through with it. I was wondering where that subway footage came from though!

Bill's got moves!

[FodForThoought]

SORRY! forgot to link the video, here you go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxdyOcNwfSA

[f5loar]

That was from the Ricky Skaggs video of "Country Boy". I'm sure the whole video is on youtube.com Skaggs and Monroe were pretty tight during this time right after Skaggs brought back "Uncle Pen" as a big hit for him.

[Mike Bunting]

The scene on the subway is from a Ricky Skaggs music video of Country Boy. Monroe was a dancer early in his career on The National Barn Dance out of Chicago..

Here's my favourite Monroe dancing youtube

[FodForThoought]

Thanks!
Here's the "Country Boy" video if anyone's interested
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5ydMEfnJI

[Ivan Kelsall]

FFT - I understand your idea that Bill Monroe was a tad 'cranky',but i think he was only that way when it came down to 'his music' & they way it should be played & with how his band members should perform it. In his personal life,from all i've read (most of the books on his life),he was far from the stern persona that one would imagine. It's well known that he handed out 'quarters' to small children throughout his life,definitely not something a mealy minded charater would do.I only met him once over here in the UK & he couldn't have been a nicer,or more charming person if i'd written his character for him.There were definitely 2 (or more) William Smith Monroes,
Ivan