The bass player in this video is actually Bill's son, James Monroe. But Howard Watts was one of the greats! He was with Monroe from '46 to '48. Did you ever get to meet him?
This man is a national treasure! I’ve listened to mountain music all my life and I have say to nothing will ever be as pure and real as that music or the people that play and sing it.💯🇺🇸❤️
Jacob Wright Youngin' you couldn't be startin' off a better way! Makes ya wanna just get up and dance around. Great Choice as well to post.Go bluegrass, newgrass,,jamgrass,!
Bluegrass is a art in a different class. Truly the best. Bill tried to get my grandpa from Ararat, Virginia to join his band and travel. He played the fiddle.
I grew up with a dad who played bluegrass on his Martin guitar. My childhood is filled with summertime memories of weekend music gatherings at our house, we would have 5 or 6 musicians and their families over for bbq, bluegrass, hand cranked homemade ice cream, and homemade wine. I accompanied my dad to bluegrass festivals all over Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. I had the privilege of witnessing some of the all time greatest blue grass guys ever. Bill Monroe, Bobby and Sonny Osborne, Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley just to name a few. When I hear good bluegrass, it takes me back to those childhood memories-it was good times when life was much simpler.
"Late in the evening, about sundown High on the hill and above the town When uncle pen played the fiddle, Lord how it rang You could hear it talk, You could hear it sing!"
Any Bluegrass fan owes it to themselves to visit Bill's childhood home on Jerusalem Ridge, and the nearby Uncle Pen's cabin. A shrine to an American musical genius'
Out of tune, and gets on the bass strings to comp. No digital tuners 😅 Without them we all get a little off sometimes. It's one of the things that gives this music a kind of consonance, and disonance.
Bluegrass grabs you deep inside and doesn't let go. My dad played Bill Monroe, The Osborne Brothers, Flatt and Scrugs and (his favorite) Mac Wiseman from the time I was born. Dad was called away many years ago, but old bluegrass music makes it seem like he's sitting with me, just out of sight.
Bill Monroe and the bluegrass boys the king of the old country and forever remembered I think the two top people of old bluegrass and old country is Hank Williams and Bill Monroe the kings of the old country music ❤️❤️🎶🎶🎵
Back in the late 80s I use to drive my grandpa to blue grass shows, my grandpas mandolin use to belong to to some old guy that all the bluegrass bands knew, so that mandolin was an automatic backstage pass. These guys did more drugs and partied harder than any rockstars. Great times.
Yeah, you could really hear the sound of the auditorium because of it. Also, it is STILL traditional for many groups to use one mic, (jazz combos like this too). You step up for your "break" , then step back for the next player. Notice how they used they mic that way.
yeah pretty coo huh? all the instruments are strategically placed the Bass is off to the left and when that banjo comes in from behind they part the red seas .....................
I booked Bill in 1994 in northern Wisconsin....2 hours before the show he came to the beer tent and picked with my late brother Pete Nelson and others great moment in my life
Got to listen to this man at the Mole Lake bluegrass festival. Bluegrass and acid was a potent combo. I remember dancing his entire set, in 90 degree heat.
Born and raised in Chicago, but this song, and many other bluegrass numbers, really moves my soul. Coincidentally, I was born the year this was recorded. I first heard this song on the live "Bean Blossom" double album. I bought it after reading a review in Rolling Stone magazine of all places. If you like old school bluegrass then you really should give it a listen.
I have an story to tell about Bill Monroe. In the early-mid 60s I was learning to play the guitar and watched a lot of country tv shows on Saturday (Flat and Scruggs, Porter Wagoner, and my mom's cousins--The Wilburn Bros.). While I was not a bluegrass player, I always liked it and greatly admired the good pickers and singers---Bill Monroe and his group among those. Therefore, I was a little odd among my rock and roll peers and it was a time when rock and pop were King. One day in late January (probably in the mid 60s) posters went up in our little town of Hardy, Arkansas, that Bill Monroe would do a show at the local Theatre. I would chat with friends about it but no one seemed the least interested. I bugged my mom until she gave me the money to buy a ticket, because it was a pretty big thing to me---to be that close to Nashville stars. Well that Saturday afternoon came and at about --12:30-- I went down to the movie Theatre to get a good front row seat. Sure enough, it wasn't long until Bill and his band came in and went up on the stage to visit with the owner of the Theatre -- Mrs. Ruth Thompson. There I sat alone, a young eager kid on the front row. Well, time passed, and no other person showed up for the show. So, as you might guess, it was canceled and Bill went on the West Plains, Mo. (I believe) to do an evening show. I don't think people in Hardy really knew just great Bill Monroe was and what they missed! He told me thanks for coming. If you know some of his family, please pass this on.
My boyfriend (mid-70's )worked at a music venue and got me into a lot of shows where I met many very talented men (F&S, Doc Watson...) and Bill Monroe. No one in my life has ever scared me as much as he did! Those eyes looked right through me and there wasn't a smile for miles. Love and respect him, but I still sleep with a night light!
This performance is outstanding because they are using ONE microphone. Each member knows when to step up and when to back away. Magnificent teamwork! The little guy playing fiddle could give Charlie Daniels a good run for his money. He could probably "whip" Johnny AND the devil!!! Imagine if he showed up after Johnny won... They'd both be like..."aww crap...didn't count on Bill Monroe's fiddle player showing up". He's gonna take BOTH fiddles!!
Another great b&w clip with this Bluegrass Boy configuration: PETE ROWAN, gtr; GENE LOWINGER, fiddle; DON LINEBURGER (left-handed), banjo; JAMES MONROE, bass.
hi stranger, if you’re reading this. i just wanna tell you that you matter and you’re important ❤ i know you are tired,, but please never give up. okay? i believe you can do it :) and i’m proud of you!! even though i dont know you. always think positive and ignore the negativity that surrounds you. focus on positive side and the things that makes you happy. you are doing great hun. 😙 let’s keep going. we can get through this together. you are worth it. sending virtual hugs to everyone 🥰🤗have a good sleep tonight. tell your loved ones that you love them. sweet dreams my dear~ always smile 😊
I want to thank you for relaying the message for me really so thankful I needed to read this it made me think of my grandmother that just passed ❤😢thank you so much
Bill Monroe was the greatest musician off 'modern-times', some of his works such as Tallahasie even rivalled the Classical greats, even Elvis, Johnny Cash, Marc- Bolan, Queen etc couldn't touch him!
The world we live in, what can I say? The center of town is the courthouse. People gather and meet every Wednesday and Saturday at 6:00am. The Townfolkton farmers market has been canceled due to inappropriate customs and wares! Ohh, the Townfolkton Farmer's Market? Let's go, I've heard they're good.
I'm a Rosine Ky. native. My Dad was born in Uncle Pens' Cabin...My Grand'Ma's sister was married to Mr. Pen...I think that's pretty cool. We got good music here and good BBQ...I would not want to live any where else
Billy Strings brought me here. Wow. This music brings a smile to my face. Anyone have recommendations of some other bands/players in Bluegrass. I know Billy Strings, Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Lester and Earl, Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys. Thanks in advance. This got me playing guitar again after over a decade of being inactive, I love it.
brother, if you ain't heard Old and in the Way with Jerry Garcia on banjo, you haven't heard real bluegrass!! check it out... the band is; Old and In the Way....
MY EDUCATED GUESS AS TO THE BLUEGRASS BOYS ; PETER ROWAN - GUITAR , LEAD VOCAL ON CHORUS ; GENE LOWINGER -FIDDLE , BARITONE VOCAL ON CHORUS ; JAMES MONROE - BASS ; DON LINEBERGER - BANJO . MIDDLE '65 TO EARLY '66
"I'll never forget that mournful day When Uncle Pen was called away They hung up his fiddle, they hung up his bow They knew it was time for him to go" We are listening to this song here in our computers, while the man who sang these verses died 17 years ago... they have a deeper meaning now :p But of course, his mandolin keeps talking and singing like uncle pen's violin.
I know huh? That always strikes me so, that from the grave these men sing the old time songs and the old time religion get's converts even when the converters are long gone to the Glory. Such a heckuva thing.
