| Birth: | Sep. 13, 1911 | | Death: | Sep. 9, 1996 | 
Father of American Bluegrass Music. He is the founder of the music genre known as Bluegrass. The name was taken from his band “The Bluegrass Boys" which for half a century promoted this style of music. He was born into a family of musicians in Rosine, Kentucky. By the age of ten he was playing the mandolin. Before reaching his teen years, his parents died and he went to live with an uncle who happened to be a locally famous "fiddle" player. The young musician was soon performing in his uncle’s band. During this time he met a blues entertainer, Arnold Schultz, who became a major influence on the Bluegrass legend’s musical career. At the age of eighteen, he moved to East Chicago, Indiana where he and his brothers worked in an oil refinery during the day and played music in the evening. “The Monroe Brothers” became a regional success and soon they were asked to perform regularly on a Chicago radio station. In 1936, the band was given a recording contract. The band was moderately successful recording a few minor hits. Two years later the group parted ways and Bill organized a new band seeking to combine the old country string sound with a blues vocal style. The new sound was extrememly popular and by 1946 “The Bluegrass Boys” were touring the country and appearing regularly on the radio. Some of his hits included “Kentucky Waltz,” Footprints in the Snow” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, the first class of the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. He is the only performer to be honored by all three. In 1993 The he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Three years later he died from a complications caused by a stroke. (bio by: Bigwoo)
Search Amazon for Bill Monroe | | | Burial:
Rosine Cemetery
Rosine
Ohio County
Kentucky, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 01, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 2508 |
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Becky J. Balmer
Added: Nov. 2, 2009 |
Thanks for the music sir, we miss you so in bluegrass, but you will forever be our "Father of Bluegrass Music". Godspeed.
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Debi Ann
Added: Sep. 28, 2009 |
When I was a little girl you had a song about a little girl and "an awful,dreadful snake." I hated and loved that song..it was so scary! God bless.
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Tymesdone
Added: Sep. 28, 2009 |
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