Earl Scruggs

born in Shelby North Carolina in 1924

Earl Scruggs born in Shelby North Carolina in 1924, he grew up in the Flint Hill Area where three finger banjo playing was practically invented. This style of play was totally different from the usual banjo technique, and Earl Scruggs is considered without the doubt the master of this wonderful style of play.

By the time he was seven years old he was playing with his brothers in live shows by aged 15 he had joined the Carolina wildcats and was performing on radio in North and later South Carolina.

The second world war put a halt to his career but shortly afterwards Bill Monroe signed him for his band. This was the last piece in Bill Monroes, blue grass band and for the first time teamed Earl up with Lester Flatt.

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Foggy Mountain Boys

For several years Monroe's band recorded some of the finest music in American Folk music. However the success was to cause Earl to leave the band, he hated the constant traveling and finally quit in 1948.

It was shortly after this Lester Flatt left the band and teamed up with Earl on Mac Wiseman's Farm and Fun Time Radio Show in Bristol Virginia. While playing here they decided to form their own band The Foggy Mountain Boys, named after the Carter Family song 'Foggy Mountain Top.

They eventually surpassed Bill Monroe in popularity and gained massive exposure when they released the Ballad Of Jed Clampett from TV's Beverly Hillbillies and performing the theme music for the Movie Bonnie and Clyde, Major hits include Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Salty Dog Blues, Roll In My Sweet Baby's arms, I'm Working on a Road.

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Flatt and Scruggs Split

The 1960's saw a downturn in the fortunes of the Foggy Mountain Boys, and finally Flatt and Scruggs split. Earl went on to form the Earl Scruggs Revue with his son's Randy on guitar, Gary on Bass and Steve on Keyboards.

There is no doubt that the Earl Scruggs sound still forms and will always form an integral part of country music.

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