Happy Birthday Bill Monroe

“No, YOU stand back”… Bill Monroe

I had a completely different column written to send out today. But then I realized, today is Bill Monroe’s birthday! I’ve been writing second Sunday columns for several years now, but Bill’s actual birthday has never fallen on my day to write. How could I not honor the guy who did more than anybody else to get this whole bluegrass music thing going?

Every year, the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley hosts a tribute to the Father of Bluegrass. This year the tradition included the likes of David Grier, Butch Waller, Kathy Kallick, Molly Tuttle, Tom Rozum, Chad Manning, Patrick Sauber and Chuck Polling. The annual tribute was observed on a Thursday this year, September 10.

Only every now and then does a particular important date fall on a given day of the week. Though I’m happy to have the honor of writing my Sunday column on Bill’s birthday this year, I’d much rather be at the newly reborn King’s River Bluegrass Festival. I am so hoping that this new festival will be a continuing success. One thing is for certain, the promoters could not have picked a more auspicious day for their enterprise than September 13.

Sitting in that beautiful grove listening to Bluegrass music is a priceless experience. This year the bands at King’s River include The Old Time Gospel Aires, Narrow Gauge Ramblers, Uncle Ephus, Poor Valley Band, Two For the Road, Lonesome Moon, The Grasskickers and Red Dog Ash. I envy all of you out there sitting among the Chinese Elms feasting your ears right now. Maybe you’re listening to Red Dog Ash. That band really impresses me every time I hear them, in part because they have so much good original material. Listen guys, just this night you’re allowed to do a few Bill Monroe covers.

Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, sprouted directly from Zeus’s head. And many fans of the music would argue that bluegrass sprouted directly from Bill Monroe’s head. One thing is for certain, if there had been no Bill Monroe, there would not have been bluegrass music as we know it. When he took the stage with Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Chubby Wise and Howard Watts in late 1945, the die was cast and the music was born.

Since branching off from his brother duet success with brother Charlie in 1938, Bill had been playing as Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. But it was only when the short lived band featuring Earl’s blazing three finger banjo picking took the stage that Bluegrass came to be Bluegrass. The members of that band formed a diaspora that took the music in a different direction from the other country music performers of the day. It was a distinct sound, blending influences from old time fiddle music, blues and contemporary music. And imitation of that special sound by bands like the Stanley brothers and the Osborne Brothers gave it traction.

Traction that is being demonstrated today, even as we speak. If you’re not at a concert, play or listen to some Bill Monroe today.

Happy Birthday Bill Monroe!