Louisiana Bluegrass: The Early Years
In 1940, '46, and '47, Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys toured as a tent show in north and west central Louisiana. There seminal events impacted numerous musicians and fans who had heard his 1930s recordings with his brother, Charlie, and performances on WSM's Grand Ole Opry.
With beginnings in the fiddle bands, string bands and churches of north, west, and central Louisiana as well as Flordia Parishes, the instrumental and vocal blueprint of the modern bluegrass band was set. Numerous rural musicians were drawn to this hard-driving soulful music, especially the unique "high lonesome" vocals and the sound of the banjo. With no one to teach this difficult instrument, aspiring banjo players finally started learning the three-finger style from bands performing on the Louisiana Hayride and transplanted southeastern musicians.
From the 1960s to the peaking mid-1980s, read the history of how bluegrass cropped through Louisiana over the decades.
Author: Ron Yule
Page Count: 217
Size: 8.5x11
Hardcover
Includes index and black and white photos
ISBN 978-0-9787358-5-2