New Book About Earl Scruggs To Be Available In March!

As Earl Scruggs picked his banjo with machine gun precision at his 1945 debut at the Ryman Auditorium, he set in motion a successful career and enduring legacy that would eclipse anything the humble farm boy from North Carolina could have imagined.

Scruggs’s revolutionary three-finger roll patterns electrified audiences and transformed the banjo into a mainstream solo instrument pursued by innumerable musicians.

Foundation Extends Grant Application Deadline

The Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants to honor two very important innovators in the world of bluegrass music -Mr. Earl Scruggs who passed away this year and Mr. Warren Hellman who passed away in 2011.

The previous application deadline of August 15th has been extended one week to August 22, 2012.

Facebook Auction to help fund “The Book of Earl”

We noticed this little item on Facebook and thought it worthy of passing along.

An incredible piece of memorabilia for the 'Scruggs fan'!!!

A Gibson string envelope that Earl not only signed-he wrote the date and the occasion the string was used for: '12-17-99 to play the football stadium in Nashville, TN'

If you're one of the folks who want to see 'The Book of Earl' completed and would like to see it done sooner than later-participating in these fundraisers is the VERY BEST WAY to make that happen.

If you want to hear Earl Scruggs' last studio recordings- participating in these fundraisers is the VERY BEST WAY to make that happen.

If you'd like to see the footage of Earl's last sessions and a documentary of his life based on his biography-participating in these fundraisers is the VERY BEST WAY to make that happen.

If you would like to make an offer on this autographed string envelope, just push the 'comment button' on the Facebook page  below the photo of the item and enter your offer. Whoever submits the highest offer for this piece of memorabilia by Saturday, July 28, 2012 11:00pm will get the pick, a notarized letter of authenticity, and your name will be included in the 'Book of Earl's' 'acknowledgements' section.

Vince Gill–Back To Bluegrass!

Earl Scruggs’ Passing Influences Vince Gill To Return to Bluegrass

Nashville, TN – May 3, 2012 -- Vince Gill will take to the road for a dozen bluegrass shows in June.  The 20-time Grammy-winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame will be backed by a band made up of some of the most acclaimed pickers in contemporary music, specifically fiddler Stuart Duncan, guitarist Jeff White, banjoist Jim Mills and bassist Dennis Crouch.  Gill will round out the band on guitar, mandolin and vocals.

"After the passing of Earl Scruggs [on March 28],” Gill says, “it means the world to me to do these dates with this world-class band playing the music that Earl defined.  I absolutely adore this music."

Bluegrass Pioneer Earl Scruggs Gone at Age 88

Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 - March 28, 2012)

NASHVILLE, TN.—Bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs, who helped profoundly change the popular music of his day with Bill Monroe and later with guitarist Lester Flatt, has died. He was 88.

Scruggs' son Gary said his father passed away Wednesday morning at a Nashville, Tenn., hospital. Gary Scruggs said his father died of natural causes.

The elder Scruggs was an innovator who pioneered modern banjo sound. His use of three fingers rather than the clawhammer style elevated the banjo from a part of the rhythm section—or a comedian's prop—to a lead instrument.

His string-bending and lead runs became known worldwide as "the Scruggs picking style." It was perhaps most prominently displayed on the iconic theme from "The Beverly Hillbillies."
UPDATE:   We’ve just learned from Loudilla Johnson, President of the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO), The family of Earl Scruggs will receive friends during visitation tomorrow (Mar. 30) and Saturday (Mar. 31) between 3–7 p.m. at Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville. Funeral services will be held Sunday, April, 1 at 2 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville or the Earl Scruggs Center (Destination Cleveland County, The Earl Scruggs Center, P.O. Box 2063, Shelby, NC 28151.

Pa's Fiddle Project Comes to PBS

New Album to be Released June 5th to Commemorate Occasion

This Friday, January 6th, a concert based on the music written about in the Little House on the Prairie series of books by author Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be filmed at the Loveless Barn in Franklin, TN before a live audience, for broadcast by the PBS television network.  Pa's Fiddle: America's Music will broadcast first during the June pledge-drive season on PBS stations throughout the nation, and be available to those stations for broadcast over the next two years. 

Artists performing include award-winning musician and musical director Randy Scruggs and an all-star string band featuring Matt Combs, Dennis Crouch, Chad Cromwell, Hoot Hester and Shad Cobb, along with featured artists Randy Travis, Rodney Atkins,Ronnie Milsap, Ashton Shepherd, The Roys, Natalie Grant and Committed (NBC Sing Off Champions).

Bluegrass Pioneer Comedian Jody Rainwater Dies at Age 92

Jody Rainwater was his stage name. He played bass and was so popular as a Bluegrass Humorist he often got separate billing with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys where he was the stand-up bass player.

Rainwater was born Charles Edward Johnson in Surry County, North Carolina in 1920.  He died December 24th, 2011 at age 92.

Rainwater died in hospice care at Richmond Virginia’s Retreat Doctor’s Hospital.  For the last two years he suffered from heart disease.  A funeral will be held today, Wednesday, at 1 p.m. at Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home in Crewe, VA. Burial will follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Rice, VA.

Read More about Jody Rainwater.   Photo Gallery Below courtesy Charlie Rainwater family photos