Earl Scruggs is the Jimi Hendrix of the banjo. I just heard that Mr. Scruggs from Shelby, NC died at age 88 in Nashville, TN tonight. Like Hendrix, it is safe to say nobody will ever play exactly like that again.

I saw him play on Letterman sometime in the last year or two and he was still amazing. I saw him play live in Charleston, SC and in Athens, Ga in the 1970's. Mr. Scruggs was one of few artists whose live performance left me slack jawed. Even if you don't like Bluegrass, and I'm not exactly a huge fan of it, when Mr. Scruggs was playing it was spellbinding and you just knew he was the master and you'd never see the like of him again...so you watched and listened very carefully trying to find a mistake maybe. There never was one.

After notoriety came in the 1960's from his traditional Bluegrass work with Lester Flatt, Scruggs split to go in a more progressive direction with the Earl Scruggs Revue.

That is the true mark of an artist. They always are heading for the new musical territory yet to be covered and explored. In short, he did not beat a dead mule. In the two live shows I saw you were offered almost exclusively the newer stuff the group had been working on and he did not focus on his golden oldies. What a player!

The media report I just heard called him a Bluegrass legend. In reality he was more of a musical legend as his talent transcended the genre. Yes his early work was definitely Bluegrass, but where he went to after that was far beyond the traditional folk music.

Earl played with non country artists also at times,I saw a video of him not long ago with a country/rock group from the '60s,I can't remember who....The Flying Burrito Bros.....Byrds????
Like fiddle player Vassar Clements,he wasn't afraid to step out of his comfort zone....and mix with other music styles.

Awesome player for many years! RIP Earl

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

Heard the news this morning...rest easy Mr. Scruggs.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I, like a lot of other kids from that time, Grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. Flat & Scruggs were amongst the regulars that filled the homes of America with musical delight. I think my very first live experience was in Austin Texas around 1952. I saw them along with Little Jimmy Dickens, String Bean and Minny Pearl. I can remember Earl Scruggs Lifting Little Jimmy Dickens Up on to a box so that he could be Sean.
R I P Mr. Banjo I Will Never forget your music.
----Danny,

Oh Man what a bummer he'll be missed, hope he has free pass for the pearly gates 'cos I hear Mama don't allow no banjo pickin' round there

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Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'

yep brotherdave, that dude was an amazing picker. i guess i was raised on the same music you were Danny. my uncles covered all the old classics and i can hear them as i type. funny thing............
i found a country station while i was in houston that plays classic country. they jam a tune by glen cambell (gentle on my mind) that made me get my banjo from the dark, lonely closet. i suck but i really want to get decent on the banjo. (fender by the way). scruggs is a name i find in almost every lesson.

Thanks for posting brotherdave.

R.I.P. Earl Scruggs.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Another great banjo player and bluegrass icon passed this week.

R.I.P. Doug Dillard.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... 3551.story