Bill Monroe

William Smith "Bill" Monroe [ bɪl mənɹoʊ ] (* September 13, 1911 in Rosine, Kentucky, † September 9, 1996 in Springfield, Tennessee ) was an American country singer, musician and composer. He is known as "Father of Bluegrass " and was for his high voice and his fast solos on the mandolin. In his 61 years plus career, he recorded more than 500 plates. Two of his biggest hits are Blue Moon of Kentucky and Kentucky Waltz.

2.1 Musical Performance
2.2 Musicality
2.3 Lyrics

5.1 Singles
5.2 albums

7.1 Text Sources
7.2 image sources

8.1 Literature
8.2 External links

Life

Childhood and youth

Bill Monroe was the eighth and youngest child of James Buchanan "Buck" Monroe and Melissa Ann Van Diver. Born and raised on the farm of parents in Raisin, Monroe is developed as introverted child because of a visual impairment. Because his brother Birch Fiddle and his other brother Charlie played guitar, learned Monroe mandolin playing, and for that time rather unusual instrument. The mother brought her children early singing at what Monroe lasting influence. Further influences were his uncle, Pendelton " Uncle Pen" Vandiver, who played fiddle and the African- American blues guitarist Arnold Shultz. Both Monroe joined in his youth scattered in so-called " Barn Dances " on.

With his two brothers Birch and Charlie Monroe Bill moved to Chicago, where she worked in an oil refinery. Her first public appearance they had at a radio station. Her father had come to the debut of his sons from Kentucky, shortly after he and his wife died. Bill Monroe at the time was 16 years old. Later, the trio appeared in the popular radio show WLS National Barn Dance radio station WLS. At this time, the harmonica player DeFord Bailey in the show enjoyed great success. Monroe later described him in interviews over and over again as a model; he was present even in 1982 at Bailey's funeral as well as its posthumous admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 1934 Birch left the trio. The two remaining brothers decided to devote himself henceforth professional music.

Career start

First, it occurred in Nebraska and Iowa in radio programs of local radio stations. As they settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, their popularity grew steadily. Even then, the two brothers were famous for their fast instrumentals, especially Bill Monroe's pace on the mandolin impressed many. "Lightning - fast" ( lightning ), he raised the mandolin emerged as a solo instrument, as one of the radio directors said. Soon they knew the entire eastern south as "The Monroe Brothers". Appearances they contested among others on the station WBT and their Crazy Barn Dance, occurred in the other string bands in the region.

The Monroe Brothers

In 1936, she got a record deal with RCA Victor's sublabel Bluebird Records. Their first album What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul sold well, so they took more plates. In addition to the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers were among the most successful duos in the thirties. Overall, they took on more than 60 different songs, all sold well. More titles were, for example, Nine Pound Hammer, New River Train, and John Henry. However, the two wayward brothers quarreled and parted in 1938.

Beginnings of the Bluegrass

Shortly after Bill Monroe The Kentuckians, which soon changed their name to The Bluegrass Boys founded. The name is a throwback to the "Bluegrass State" Kentucky; the term bluegrass called blue-green due to the nutrient- rich soil leaves of the common grass species Poa pratensis. The new style was therefore referred to by the media later than bluegrass. With the new band Monroe took on two sessions, since his recording contract had not yet expired at RCA. He then worked briefly at the radio station WBT.

On October 28, 1939 the band played in front of the line of the Grand Ole Opry. The three leaders, George D. Hay, Harry Stone and David Stone were impressed by the completely new style of country music. Monroe mixed hillbilly and old-time fiddle pieces with gospel, African American dance music, Irish ballads and enriched this combined form with blues, jazz, swing and folk elements. Out came the typical bluegrass sound, which was characterized by high, sharp voices and fast rhythms. This was supplemented by mostly improvised instrumental parts that required a high level of skill of each musician.

The program line dedicated Monroe and his band in October 1939. On their first appearance they presented their version of Mule Skinner Blues before, who had been a hit song by Jimmie Rodgers. Through the recognition of the Grand Ole Opry, the popularity of Bluegrass Boys rose steadily. Until his death in Monroe should remain a member of the Opry. 1940, the first recordings were produced, their first single was Six White Horses on the A- side and the Mule Skinner Blues on the B-side.

1943 earned Bill Monroe by appearances alone $ 200,000 a year. With this money, Monroe founded his own tent show that combined music, shows and comedy. With this concept, he and the Bluegrass Boys traveled throughout the southern United States. 1944 Monroe added banjo to his newly created style to, first in the line-up with Dave Akeman. In 1945 this was replaced by the gambling in the three-finger style of Earl Scruggs.

Breakthrough

On September 16, 1946 the first recordings for Columbia Records in the Castle Studios, Nashville were committed, which can be described as a typical bluegrass. The cast in this session was individually Bill Monroe (vocals and mandolin ), Earl Scruggs ( banjo), Lester Flatt (guitar), Howard Watts ( bass) and Chubby Wise (fiddle ). As the Columbia Stanley Brothers took them under contract, Monroe moved only at the Decca label, then MCA. His biggest hit, Blue Moon of Kentucky, the Elvis Presley in 1954 grossed in its first recordings, dating back to 1946. Monroe as heard the Presley version, he was thrilled. He should be gone immediately afterwards into the studio to record a new version is also in the " High Lonesome " sound.

The " High Lonesome " sound was a development of Monroe, in the even higher vocals and slower rhythms were used. This style was supported by the play of former guitarist Jimmy Martin. Flatt and Scruggs had previously opted out of the band and had the Foggy Mountain Boys was founded. Shortly thereafter, Chubby Wise climbed out what the success of Monroe and his band, however, did not hurt, on the contrary, because soon the band found new members. From the late 1940s they came to just under the name of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys.

Due to the commercial success of Monroe's media called the beginning of the 1950s his newly created style " bluegrass ", in reference to his band. Previously, you had no name for this style.

Monroe celebrated another great success, among other things, with the titles of Roanoke in 1954, Scotland in 1958 (# 27), Gotta Travel on 1959 (# 15), Linda Lou 1960, Columbus Stockade Blues from 1962 or Walls of Time in 1968. in addition, he regularly took on instrumentals like Bluegrass Breakdown, Bluegrass Ramble or Bluegrass Stomp, demonstrate the virtuosity of all band members.

60s and 70s

In the early 1960s formed the acoustic bluegrass soon an alternative to the played with electronic instruments styles honky tonk, country-pop and rockabilly. With the help of the promoter Ralph Rinzler Monroe began to attract the attention of young folk fans up.

In 1965 the first Bluegrass Festival was held in the Bill Monroe formed the center. In 1967 he started his own, held annually Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana. Nevertheless, his record sales eased gradually, as the country music had more and more closer to the pop since since 1950. Monroe had built up since the beginning of his career, a great fan base that kept the sales figures at a constant level, which kept him from losing his record deal with MCA.

1970 Monroe was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the highest honor of country music. In 1975 he recorded the album Bill and Doc sing country songs with the guitar virtuoso Doc Watson.

80 years and death

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Bill Monroe began to travel all over the world. He gave concerts in Japan, Canada, England, Ireland, France, Germany, Israel, Switzerland and the Netherlands. 1982 Monroe met with his band at a gospel concert in the Cathedral Caverns, a large limestone cave with underground lake, which was recorded by MCA, but never published. In 1983 he released the album Bill Monroe and Friends, on which he sang duets with many famous country musicians like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Mel Tillis. 1988 Monroe won a Grammy for his album Southern Flavor. In 1991 he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.

Until well into old age Bill Monroe released new albums. One of his last title was My Last Days on Earth in the year 1981. By early 1996, he took another publicly. A stroke in April then forced him to give up his performances. On 9 September 1996 Bill Monroe died at the age of 85 years from the effects of stroke in Springfield, Tennessee.

Life's work

Musical performance

The lifetime achievement Bill Monroe is that he, despite clear ideas about the sound of his music is always new, even urban talents understood integrate that, in its later years generally remained the patriarch, who was as far back as authoritarian and idiosyncratic respectfully devoted even if they now went their own ways. Today the opinion is expressed that Bill Monroe created with the Bluegrass the second next to the original jazz music style of the USA by professionals.

During his time as a singer over 150 different musicians played in his backing band, the Blue Grass Boys with, including stars such as Mac Wiseman, Don Reno and Sonny Osborne. Bill Monroe was one of the most important and influential figures of country music. Even today there are in Europe, but especially in the U.S. large fan bases. In the United States the Bluegrass has become an independent folk music, which has already developed many subspecies. As an early influencers of rock'n'roll Monroe has also taken a year after his death into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Monroe is one of the few artists who were included in both the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters the Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Musical performance

Although Bill Monroe always played music by the term bluegrass, his music can still be divided into three directions. While he played in the 1940s, the typical fast bluegrass sound, he changed the sound of music from the "Lonesome High " song as I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling up to the enriched gospel shouts style, the title, such as walking in Jerusalem That Home Above or brought forth.

Decorated in a gospel style titles were usually accompanied only by the rhythm guitar. The hard "chop " the band played on the fiddle, revealed along with the bass - banjo - guitar combination the typical sound, which was used almost exclusively in the fast rhythmic songs.

Furthermore, Monroe picked up the mandolin in the role of a solo instrument. In the instrumental piece Rawhide Bill Monroe's whole virtuosity on the mandolin is clear. One of the most successful representative of today's bluegrass, Sam Bush, once said to this feature, the mandolin: " I use my mandolin as a drum kit ." Every now and then used Monroe in his songs and accordion, as in the Kentucky Waltz or the instrumental piece Bluegrass Special.

Lyrics

The lyrics, which mostly wrote Bill Monroe himself, often about the nature of his home state of Kentucky, love and also have religious themes to the content. However, some songs also deal with personal experiences. His song Uncle Pen honors his uncle, with whom he often played music together. Also the title of Little Community Church tells a story from his childhood. In this song he describes the small church, which still stands in his hometown of Rosine.

Personality

Many close confidante of Monroe's report that he was often idiosyncratic and even prone to authoritarianism, which had the members of the Blue Grass Boys often learn. However, Monroe was considered by many as a very sensitive person; he needed his rest, he retired to a small hut and stayed there hours, every now and then with his mandolin. Furthermore, Monroe had several women at his side. He married his first wife, Carolyn Monroe, his second wife, Della Streeter, who accompanied him to his death ..

The humor of Bill Monroe was always described as very resourceful. Since the mid-1950s, he joined every year at Christmas as Santa Claus and played with various musicians such as Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs together. He was " exposed" to his fans through his regular appearances until well into old age and its up to his death continued popularity, asking for autographs and photos. These desires fulfilled Monroe with benevolence to a gentle self-expression.

Trivia

The cottage, was born in the Bill Monroe, burned down in his third year of life.

As Monroe with his Bluegrass Boys toured in the early 1940s through the southern states, however, was not so popular, they played as a baseball team against other local teams to be so zuverdienen money to do so.

His title Blue Moon of Kentucky was covered not only by Elvis Presley, but also of other stars like Patsy Cline, Paul McCartney, Red Foley and many other singers.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Awards

Admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1970
Admission into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, 1971
Heritage Award, 1982
Grammy for the album "Southern Flavor ", 1988
Induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor
Lifetime Achievement Award, 1993
National Medal of Honor, awarded by President Bill Clinton, 1995
Posthumous inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, 1997
Posthumous inclusion in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2002
Posthumous award from the Academy of Country Music Honors with the Pioneer Award, 2006

Swell

Text sources

Website of the Country Music Hall Of Fame
Website of Country Music Television
Website of the Hickorywinds

Evidence

Image sources

Flickr - Images Search
Website of the Hickorywinds

References

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