Earl Scruggs, born on January 6, 1924, and passing on March 28, 2012, was a pivotal figure in the creation and popularization of modern bluegrass music, renowned primarily for his revolutionary banjo playing technique. Known as the "Scruggs style," his method of playing the five-string banjo, characterized by the use of three fingers to produce a rapid, rolling, intricate series of notes, significantly transformed the instrument's role in American music. His influence extends beyond bluegrass, impacting the broader country and folk music genres.

Scruggs rose to prominence in the late 1940s when he joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, where he formed a legendary partnership with guitarist Lester Flatt. The two eventually parted ways with Monroe to form the Foggy Mountain Boys, also known simply as Flatt & Scruggs. Together, they produced a body of work that included classics like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," which became the theme song for the television show "The Beverly Hillbillies." Over the years, Earl Scruggs’s innovation and virtuosity brought him numerous awards and recognitions, including multiple Grammy awards and a National Medal of Arts. Scruggs's collaborations, such as those featured in albums like "Earl Scruggs and Friends" and the live performances captured in "Classic Bluegrass Live 1959-1966", showcased his ability to blend genres and influence musicians across the musical spectrum. His legacy lives on, as the "Scruggs style" of banjo playing continues to be a foundational technique for bluegrass musicians worldwide.

Genres

Banjo

Bluegrass

Instrumental Bluegrass

Related Artists

Ricky Skaggs

Doc Watson

Alison Krauss

Tony Rice

Bill Monroe

Del McCoury

The Stanley Brothers

Emmylou Harris

Dan Tyminski

Jerry Douglas

Rosanne Cash

Béla Fleck

Latest Release

The Complete Early Recordings Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs (Doxy Collection)

Earl Scruggs

Album - 56 Tracks - Released February 16, 2015