Bill Monroe 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,
Monroe 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
Monroe'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,
Monroe was the mentor for several generations of musicians. Over the years,
Monroe's band hosted all of the major bluegrass artists of the '50s and '60s, including
Flatt & Scruggs,
Reno & Smiley,
Vassar Clements,
Carter Stanley, and
Mac Wiseman. Though the lineup of
the Blue Grass Boys changed over the years,
Monroe always remained devoted to bluegrass in its purest form. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine