earl scruggs

This month’s column jumps headlong into some issues where I will rail against “common wisdom”.… Read More

Will J. writes: I have been taking banjo lesson for about a year and a half now. My instructor is a great banjo player, winning competitions at major events. My problem seems to be that he wants me to learn songs by ear. I currently have about 30 songs in my repertoire, mostly traditional Scruggs tunes. … Read More

Jim from Ohio writes: Inspired by my experience at your jam and banjo camps I have focused more on singing, increasing playing speed and clarity and learning better to improvise (“the year of the melody”). I am spending less time on instrumentals.… Read More

I just turned 61 at the end of February, and find myself reflecting on getting older and “taking stock”. I count myself lucky to have a career in music. The chance both to perform, in many places, with many fine musicians, and to teach people how to play music keeps my life interesting and fulfilling.… Read More

Earl did something miraculous when he started a way of playing the banjo that took advantage of so many ways three fingers of a right hand could pull music out of a five string instrument with low-sustain and a high drone. Somehow, that right hand and that instrument came together to create sounds that have thrilled people worldwide for more than a half century, and that will surely continue to be heard as long as there are human beings.… Read More

Louise and Earl Scruggs first met at the Ryman Auditorium in 1946, and in the years to follow, thanks to her steadfast efforts as his manager and booking agent, she watched him perform there countless more times.… Read More

Our TV appearance got all sorts of interesting reactions in the month after we were on. In emails and at the IBMA conference in particular, so many folks said they stayed up late the night of the show, to see us and root us on. We even had reports of people cheering in front of their TV sets (!) and lots of compliments on the playing, especially Earl’s tone!… Read More

Well, we did it! Five banjos, two guitars, one mandolin, and a piano, playing Foggy Mt. Breakdown at top speed for three and a half minutes. Wouldn’t be such a big deal, but in this case something made it daunting – being on the David Letterman show. National TV! Yow!… Read More

This was our third time returning to the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, and each time has been more fun than the last. The unique aspect of this festival is the mixture of Irish music (featuring flatpicked 4-string tenor banjo) with American 5-string banjo music in some of its many forms, including both 3-finger bluegrass style and clawhammer.… Read More

This article by Bill McKay originally appeared in the September 1996 issue of Banjo Newsletter. For most musicians, mastering a new lick or tune now and then is rewarding enough. And if any of us are lucky enough to grow … Read More