American Roots Music: Bluegrass

This blog will be covering the roots of American Bluegrass music, what instruments are used in the genre, and what influential people made bluegrass music what it is today.

As some of you may know, bluegrass is a big and influential part of my music journey. Now this may seem strange to some of you - as I am of Asian descendant - but bluegrass was a big part of my childhood and it gave me much experience in playing my instrument and performing for big audiences (all thanks to my dad, who we will talk more about later :). Now, growing up, I heard many different things about bluegrass music. I knew all of the important names in the bluegrass industry and I could recognize all the different instruments, but I didn't truly know the roots of American bluegrass. In my research, I found a lot of interesting information regarding where it came from and where it got its unique sound. 

Bluegrass music is considered to be a genre of Americana roots music. First off, what is roots music? When people talk about roots music, more specifically Americana roots, they are talking about the many subgenres of American music. This can include country, folk, and early blues. From there, you get bluegrass. American bluegrass is accredited as coming over from Europe during the 1600s. People who migrated over to America from Scotland, Ireland, and England brought with them their folk music which became the base or skeleton structure for bluegrass music. Over time, as families began to spread throughout the South, moving to the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, people began writing music about their daily lives and adventures. Many of these people were farmers and grew up in and around the countryside, so the thematic material of their music was based around life on the farm or growing up in the hills. Because of that, this kind of music was first considered to be country music, mountain music or hillbilly music, as it came from the people of the country/hills/mountains. As people began to spread and share their music with others, this mountain music began to change and take on new musical elements that effected its sound. You began to hear influences of the blues or gospel music because of the location (people spread out towards the Mississippi Delta region where blues began.). There is much to say about the beginnings of bluegrass music and its sound. Here is an old video example of bluegrass/mountain music that might get your toes a'tappin'. 

The video I attached above is an excerpt from the 1964 documentary called, "Bluegrass Roots" by filmmaker  David Hoffman. It is a bit lengthy but so worth the watch! Not only can you hear the music of the mountains but you get to see it in action. In this video are bluegrass players, Jesse "Lost John Ray" and Bascom Lamar Lunsford, two very influential and highly regarded bluegrass musicians in the Asheville, NC area during that time. As you watch, listen and hear them speak, you can get a good sense of the true roots of American bluegrass music. It may have been simple, to some a bit sloppy, but it all came from the heart, with lots of passion. 

Another very influential musician in this genre was known as the "Father of Bluegrass" and his name was Bill Monroe. Mr. Monroe came out of Rosine, Kentucky, where he was raised on a farm in the early 1900s. He was surrounded by good bluegrass musicians, his mother on fiddle and vocals, his uncle Pen Vandiver on fiddler, along with his close friend, Arnold Shultz, a well-known black musician on guitar. Similar to the stories you hear about blues musicians moving up north, Bill Monroe left the family farm with his brother Charlie in search of work and ended up in Chicago where they continued to make bluegrass music. This was the start of the famous bluegrass band, the Monroe Brothers. Together, they made bluegrass music one of the most highly requested acts during the 1930s. When the two split, Bill Monroe went on to form a new band called, "Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys" where they first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry back in 1939. As the band expanded, more influential musicians came along to perform with him - people like Earl Scruggs on banjo and Lester Flatt on guitar. Together, the band would play traditional country music, featuring the sounds of black/white gospel music, string bands, black laborer work songs, blues and country music. Here is a combination of songs the Bill Monroe and Blue Grass Boys made together over the years:

In bluegrass music, there are a variety of instruments and sounds that can be used. The basic/standard four or five instruments are banjo, guitar, mandolin, an upright bass and fiddle. Each of these instruments are plucked chordophones and each of them serve a unique and important purpose in making bluegrass music. The guitar, banjo and fiddle can take turns taking on the main melody of the song. When those instruments don't have the main theme, you can hear them plucking or improvising lightly in the background. The mandolin and bass are meant to keep the steady beat (when they're not playing an awesome mandolin/bass solo). Mandolin and upright bass players are an important and integral part of bluegrass pickin' as they serve as our metronome. Without those guys, the train can fly off the rails very quickly! 

Attached below is a very special video (one that I filmed back in 2013). This is a video of the Northern Border Band performing at the Stomping Grounds in Greer, SC. What makes this band so special is that it's my father's bluegrass band! I chose this video because it shows off each of these four instruments (minus their fiddle player) in action and you can hear how each of them interact with each other. This song is an instrumental called, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" a popular and highly requested song that is standard repertoire for any bluegrass band.

My dad is the mandolin player in the white shirt :) 

Other instruments can be used in making bluegrass music- these are the Dobro and the Steel Guitar. Although these two instruments are more often seen in country music bands, they have been incorporated into many bluegrass songs and bands as they add their own special sound to the music.

Steel guitar

Dobro

American bluegrass is such a vibrant and soulful genre of music. It takes its roots from Scotland, Ireland and England and combines with the Americana roots music of country, folk and the early blues. The sound is nothing special, it is very simple and it features themes that talked about life in the country but it certainly is energetic and all from the heart. Influential people like Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt introduced and popularized the genre beginning in the 1930s and from there, America has not gotten enough of it! Today, bluegrass music has continued on and gained popularity among younger musicians! With social media and broadcasting outlets such as Facebook and YouTube, musicians across America continue to share their love for bluegrass music through videos and performances of their favorite/most fun gigs! Below are some of my personal favorites that I've run across over the years:

P.S. You've got to watch the Orange Blossom Special video by Rhonda Vincent and friends. All I can say is, it's about a really awesome train (and the fiddlers absolutely SHRED their solos)

:) 

The classic bluegrass hit, "Rocky Top" as performed by Cotton Pickin' Kids 

(another song that is standard repertoire for all bluegrass pickers)  

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage performing a special rendition of the "Orange Blossom Special"

Bibliography:

“A Brief History of Bluegrass Music.” History of Bluegrass Music |, https://bluegrassheritage.org/history-of-bluegrass-music/. 

“Bluegrass Music - Everything You Need To Know.” Bluegrass Festival Guide, 21 July 2020, https://bluegrassfestivalguide.com/bluegrass-music-everything-you-need-to-know/.