Fifty Plus (50+) - Earl Scrugs

Mr. Earl passed away today. He influenced many and will be missed by all.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_XAPku7SgE&feature=related

Yes, he was one of a very few modern musicians who you can say actually changed the music landscape. Sure wish I could spin as fast as he could pick... 8 notes a second. That would quite a cadence.

Rest in Peace Earl, you had some fast fingers back in the day.......

I remember when Earl and Lester Flatt would be on the Beverly Hillbillys, and they would play. I think that was the first time i heard foggy mountain and orange blossom.He was the best.

Was blessed to grow up in Nashville and get to hear gents like Flatt and Scruggs. Didn't appreciate it enough then, but did get to go to the Opry. Mr. Scruggs sure made some good music - we would take breaks from rock n roll in the '70's to listen to The Earl Scruggs Review. Wow.

It was actually yesterday.

Scruggs was one of my personal heroes. Like many, I learned to play banjo because of him. I never got to hear The Foggy Mountain Boys live, but I did attend a Revue concert in the early '70s and had a nice chat with him after the show. At least until one of my friends who was there with me asked him why he split with Lester. We could have kicked him. Earl was nice when he replied "I guess we just wanted to do different things," but it was clear the conversation was over after that. :notamused:

You hear a lot about American treasures (especially when Wilford Brimley's name is mentioned), but Earl Scruggs was The Real Deal. A great loss for us all.

8 notes a second. That would quite a cadence.

When he was really rolling it was closer to 11 or 12 notes a second.

I had the great privledge to attend a performance by Flatt and Scruggs together here in Rochester at a company sponsered show back in the 60's. That was a very special night for me.

His son Gary was a classmate of mine at Vanderbilt.

The real loss is that guys like Earl Sgrugs, Lester Flatt, Roy Clark, etc., those that played a non-mainstream style, was GREAT musicians and could play most anything as good as anybody else. But they always seem to be forgotten unless you like the style they play.
There is one hell of a band in Heaven.

He was a class act and a remarkable talent. Last time I saw him on TV I was impressed at how much he had aged, but still classy and still a great musician. We were lucky to have him with us for so long, RIP.

I saw the great pair at the Opry back in 1978, they were fantastic live.

Will be missed for sure.

I knew Earl.....no finer person banjo aside.....however....the more I learn and play banjo the better I realize he was....and I've been playing banjo since 1968....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/29/earl-scruggs
Came across this fine obituary in the Guardian with detail about his life and music I did not know. I had a room mate long ago who played 5 string bango. I learned the first four bars of Lyme House Blues - alas, not enough to build a career.

I went up on the roof of the building I work at today when the funeral procession came down the street from the Ryman.
Thought of his music.
RIP and Thanks...

Speaking of Roy Clark, I saw him back in the 60's , and when he asked for requests, my Father asked him to play Malaguena. Roy said-"Oh, your gonna make me work for a living". Then he played it, faultlessly, no music in front of him. Just plain phenomenal . Everybody before Earl Scruggs used banjo as a rhythym accompaniement . He originated the three finger picking style . Set the bar higher , and brought the banjo out front.