Last updated: 10 hours ago
<a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Bill Monroe</a> is the father of bluegrass. He invented the style, invented the name, and for the great majority of the 20th century, embodied the art form. Beginning with his Blue Grass Boys in the '40s, <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a> defined a hard-edged style of country that emphasized instrumental virtuosity, close vocal harmonies, and a fast, driving tempo. The musical genre took its name from the Blue Grass Boys, and <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a>'s music forever has defined the sound of classical bluegrass -- a five-piece acoustic string band, playing precisely and rapidly, switching solos and singing in a plaintive, high lonesome voice. Not only did he invent the very sound of the music, <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a> was the mentor for several generations of musicians. Over the years, <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a>'s band hosted all of the major bluegrass artists of the '50s and '60s, including <a href="spotify:artist:1iNNWK8bYjc5EK0waLk1J1">Flatt & Scruggs</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3dj0KjG7ZqNbMfbe2BVI4H">Reno & Smiley</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3kRUvBTtkaTGxDczyLC4fU">Vassar Clements</a>, Carter Stanley, and <a href="spotify:artist:01buTDfh4qo8wbcUt9Enly">Mac Wiseman</a>. Though the lineup of the Blue Grass Boys changed over the years, <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a> always remained devoted to bluegrass in its purest form. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
Monthly Listeners
75,970
Monthly Listeners History
Track the evolution of monthly listeners over the last 28 days.
Followers
37,571
Followers History
Track the evolution of followers over the last 28 days.
Related Artists
Stringbean
The Del McCoury Band
