mandolinists as band leaders...

[Paul Cowham]

It seems to me as though the band leaders of many of the groundbreaking American string bands in the last 70 years or so have tended to be mandolin players. I'm thinking of Bill Monroe, David Grisman, Sam Bush and Chris Thile.

Would you agree, and if so why do you think this is so? Is everyone else trying to emulate Bill Monroe, do mandolinists tend to make good leaders, or am I just wrong?

[JEStanek]

Ralph Stanley, Bela Fleck, Pete Wernick, Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe all on Banjo. I think you can see a similar number on other instruments too I just played the banjo side. I may like some of the banjo leaders more than some of the mandolin leaders and vice versus but, I don't think I would say the mandolin has the most in my estimation.

Jamie

[allenhopkins]

I would say in bluegrass bands, the guitarist/lead singer has been out front more often than not. Lester Flatt, Carter Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Mac Wiseman, Charlie Waller, Del McCoury, and so on. Doesn't necessarily mean he (or she) is the leader, but perhaps the most visible "face" of the band.

Makes me think about bands I've seen:
Alison Krause and Union Station: leader, Alison Krause; instrument, fiddle
Osborne Brothers: co-leaders, Sonny & Bobby Osborne; instruments, banjo & mandolin
Del McCoury Band: leader, Del McCoury; instrument, guitar
Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys: leader (generally), Jesse McReynolds; instrument, mandolin
Earl Scruggs Revue: leader (in terms of stage "leading"), Gary Scruggs; instrument, electric bass
Reno & Harrell: leader (MC, at least), Bill Harrell; instrument, guitar
Country Gentlemen: leader, Charlie Waller; instrument, guitar
Seldom Scene: leader (again, did most of the onstage talking), John Duffey; instrument, mandolin
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage: leader, Ms. Vincent; instrument, mandolin
Dailey & Vincent: co-leaders, Jamie Dailey & Darren Vincent; instruments, guitars
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys: leader, Ralph Stanley; instrument, banjo
Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys: leader, Bill Monroe; instrument, mandolin
Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass: leader, Bob Paisley; instrument, guitar
Dillards: leader (MC, at least), Mitch Jayne; instrument, bass fiddle
Dry Branch Fire Squad: leader, Ron Thomason; instrument, mandolin
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: leader, Doyle Lawson; instrument, mandolin
Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass: leader, Lester Flatt; instrument, guitar
Lilly Brothers & Don Stover: co-leaders, Everett and "B" Lilly; instruments, mandolin & guitar
Tony Trischka & Skyline: leader, Tony Trischka; instrument, banjo


Etc., etc. I don't see a clear pattern here, really; and of course, the guy (gal) who gets out front and talks onstage, or sings lead, isn't necessarily the band's leader in terms of developing their music or their style. And was Sam Bush "leader" of the New Grass Revival? Who was the "leader" of Country Gazette -- Alan Munde, Roland White, Byron Berline? I guess the later version was "Alan Munde Gazette," which pretty much settles the leadership question for the present time.

No doubt a great number of innovative and influential mandolin players, and I don't quibble with OP's contention that "leaders of many of the groundbreaking American string bands...have tended to be mandolin players," but there are quite a few band leaders who play other instruments. They may not be as "groundbreaking" -- I can't judge that -- but I think there are talent and personality qualities that lead musicians to leadership roles, regardless of what instruments they may play.

On the other hand, I'm not aware of a bluegrass band led by a Dobro player. Anyone think of one? Jerry Douglas did some touring with a back-up band, I guess...?

[Bing Cullen]

Lou Reid, Doyle lawson Adam Steffey, Jesse MacReynolds, Paul Duff, Ricky Skaggs, Lester Flatt, Marty Stuart, Steve Earl, Jimmy Martin, Danny Roberts, Mike Compton. But they are all multi instrumentalists too.

[Paul Cowham]

Thanks for your replies folks.

Perhaps my initial post was a little misleading though, I wasn't suggesting that band leaders tend to be mandolinists but that the bands that really shook things up and changed everything that followed perhaps tend to be lead by mandolinists (within the American string band broad tradition).

Eg Bill Monroe and his bluegrass boys, David Grisman quintet, maybe the Punch Brothers...?

Sure there are lots of band leaders post Bill Monroe say on the banjo (Earl Scruggs, JD Crowe etc), but my understanding is that they essentially lead bluegrass bands in the Bill Monroe vein. Bela Fleck is obviously an exception to this but he played with the newgrass revival lead by Sam Bush and his early work influenced by Grisman (not to belittle his amazing talent..!).

I'm not sure about any of this but interested to hear peoples views who know more than I do...

[AlanN]

Dobro would be Tim Graves.