Report of Bill Monroe's Death in rec.music.folk

[Steve Goldfield]

rec.music.folk has a copy of a posting from Mary Yeomans
to bgrass-l (I haven't seen it there yet) announcing that
Bill died today. Mary lives in or near Nashville and has
been providing updates on Mr. Monroe's condition to the
bluegrass list since he was hospitalized. I haven't yet
confirmed the news, but it is likely to prove to be true.

One of the best examples of Bill Monroe's connection to
old-time music is the last track (27) of the Smithsonian/
Folkways CD "Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys: Live
Recordings 1956--1969, off the record, volume 1." Ralph
Rinzler produced the CD before his recent death. That
9:45 minute track includes an interview (recorded at the
1969 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife) with Bill
in which he explains how he tried to adapt the sound
of the old-time fiddle shuffle to his mandolin. Charlie and
Birch Monroe are also on this track, and Birch plays two
fiddle tunes: "Durang's Hornpipe" and "How Old Are You My
Pretty Little Miss."

Bluegrass is certainly a legitimate offspring of old-time
music, and Bill's passing marks the end of an era. It's a
sad moment, though Bill Monroe certainly lived a long and
very productive life. You had to see him at a festival to
appreciate how much he loved his fans, especially children.
And he'd wander around and jam with people, too. The last
time I saw him perform alive was here in California almost
two years ago. I remember him coming up on stage unannounced
and unexpected to play along with two friends of mine, one of
whom was a friend of his, on a day when Bill wasn't even
scheduled to perform.

The only thing I can think to do that seems appropriate is to
play some music in his memory.
--

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Steve Goldfield :<{ {>: ste...@uclink.berkeley.edu