Bill Monroe would be 100 today if he were still alive

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/12/140366232/bill-monroe-celebrating-the-father-of-bluegrass-at-100

 

Happy birthday to the Father of Bluegrass if he were still alive on this Earth today. His music and his influence will live on forever though.

 

Seconded!

 

There have been a lot of country greats with innovative sounds, but Bill Monroe is the only one that can lay claim to creating a new genre of music.

 

Exactly. Bill IS one of a kind.

 

Guess I should spin some Bill Monroe tonight - on that point, what's some good sounding Bill Monroe. The Music of Bill Monroe set from a few years ago is pretty good. Any others?

 

That is a perfect start, jackaroe. Fortunately, just about all of his CDs are well mastered.

 

Lookin' Back.

H. Birthday, Bill Monroe.

 

Here's something interesting:

http://www.acousticdisc.com/acd_html/acd77.html

Check out the list of players:

 

That's very good to know - thanks. You want the best transfer possible with those old recordings. Absolutely brilliant music.

 

Bear Family has you covered there, things like the Monroe Brothers recordings could be found in a range of masterings from Bear Family, down to RCA/BMG and who knows what else, I haven't heard any others, I think JSP has a box on them.

And so it goes. The MCA CD's seem to sound pretty good, Bear Family, Smithsonian Folkways, after that, a crapshoot?

The CD I mentioned in an earlier post, on the Silver Eagle label is the single best sounding Bill Monroe recording I've yet heard. It's a live performance from 1984.

 

I've got two of the Bear Family sets (so far), and they are truly outstanding.

 

That sounds like a great time you had with the Father of Bluegrass. BTW, even though he has been gone for several years from this Earth (he died on Sept. 9, 1996, just a few days shy of his 85th birthday) this is still important news.

 

i saw him a couple of times and also had the pleasure of meeting him. he did a show at the lone star roadhouse in new york. we knew the staff so we pretty much had the run of the place. we watched the show sitting on the edge of the stage. towards the end of the set he called out for requests and mine was uncle pen to which he replied 'that's a good one!' and they went right into it. during the song a woman came clogging up the middle of the floor in front of the stage. while the band kept playing bill jumped right in with her. and this was only a few years before he passed away so he was no kid. after the show he went to every table and thanked each person for coming to see him. he was one of the only people i've met in the business that i called mister. he deserved that respect.

 

One of the best concerts I ever went to was a Bill Monroe show in the late 80s when he was pushing 80. He played for a couple of hours, took requests, and delivered a very enjoyable evening.

 

It's been one of my musical regrets that I never got to see a Bill Monroe concert.

 

I've never had a chance to see a Bill Monroe concert either.

 

I 'discovered' him for myself, probably around 1993-4, right when he was near the end of his life, otherwise I might have. He toured and played many, many shows, in all kind of venues.

 

I had the distinct privilege of meeting him and interviewing him in 1989, when I worked at a local television station. He was a real gentleman. I remain in awe of his talent, I have all the Bear Family boxes...

 

Me too.

 

I saw him with my family when I was maybe 12 or 13, around 1990. I remember when he asked for requests my father was ready and shouted out "Roanoke!" and they kicked right into it. Monroe must have been pushing 80 but he could still run that tune down pretty good...

 

Very cool. With all the wringing of hands around here about the state of rock and pop and all that’s trendy, it’s cool to see bluegrass bands and fans having so much fun with music and the ancient river that runs through it.

 

Can't You Hear Me Calling is a good, if somewhat breezy biography of Monroe. I was surprised to learn of his financial troubles late in life, he was nearly broke.

Here's a review for something called the Bill Monroe Reader. I ain't read it.

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/bill-monroe-reader