Group 2
Dublin Core
Title
Group 2
Subject
History Of Bluegrass Music
Description
Bluegrass music, born in the Appalachian region in the 1940s, blends influences from old-time string bands, blues, jazz, and gospel. Pioneered by Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, the genre is defined by fast tempos, intricate instrumentation, and soulful harmonies. Rooted in tradition yet constantly evolving, bluegrass continues to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide. This exhibit explores its rich history, key figures, and enduring legacy.
Creator
Group 2
Collection Items
Very early photograph of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. Art Wooten, Bill Monroe, Cleo Davis, Amos Garren.
Bill Monroe (1911–1996) was a singer, mandolinist, and songwriter who pioneered the genre of bluegrass music. His band, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, set the foundation for bluegrass with its tight harmonies, fast tempos, and virtuosic…
Doc Watson Playing His Guitar
Doc Watson (1923–2012) was a highly influential American guitarist and singer known for his flatpicking technique, which helped shape bluegrass and folk music. Despite being blind from infancy, he developed a remarkable style that blended old-time,…
"Globe Banjo"
!["Globe Banjo"](https://spring2025.vudhum.net/files/square_thumbnails/4d966e03ed4e07c2acbd01564752f6cf.jpg ""Globe Banjo"")
Dominique Flemons is an American old-time music and neotraditional country instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He is a proficient player of the banjo, fife, guitar, and other instruments. Here is a handmade banjo he made from a globe and some…
Bill Munroe's Mandolin
This mandolin belonged to Bill Monroe, the “Father of Bluegrass.” With its sharp chop rhythm and soaring leads, Monroe’s mandolin shaped the sound of an entire genre. His playing combined Appalachian tradition with bold innovation, setting the…
Bob Wills Playing The Fiddle
With bow in hand and a smile on his face, Bob Wills brought the fiddle to the heart of Western swing. Blending country, jazz, and blues, his lively playing style energized dancehalls across America. More than a bandleader, Wills was a showman—his…
Adrian McKee Playing The Upright Bass
Steady and soulful, Adrian McKee anchors the rhythm with his upright bass. His deep, resonant tones provide the heartbeat of the ensemble, blending power with precision. In his hands, the bass becomes more than the background—it’s the silent…
Display at the Kentucky Bluegrass Museum in the Ohio River city of Owensboro, Kentucky's fourth-largest city
- Title, date, keywords, and additional description details based on information provided by the photographer.
- "Bluegrass" has a triple meaning. It's a literal kind of grass, plentiful in the area's horse-breeding country and it's the state…
- "Bluegrass" has a triple meaning. It's a literal kind of grass, plentiful in the area's horse-breeding country and it's the state…
Franklin Adkins playing dobro
- Throughout southern West Virginia one can find regular jam sessions, which occur in public spaces like the Sophia Fire Hall, the Coal City Barber Shop, and the Beckley Flea Market, as well as in private buildings sometime built for that purpose,…
Harold Carpenter on guitar and Frazier Gills on fiddle
- Event: Tuesday night jam session at Frazier Gills' Barbershop.
- Throughout southern West Virginia one can find regular jam sessions, which occur in public spaces like the Sophia Fire Hall, the Coal City Barber Shop, and the Beckley Flea Market,…
- Throughout southern West Virginia one can find regular jam sessions, which occur in public spaces like the Sophia Fire Hall, the Coal City Barber Shop, and the Beckley Flea Market,…