Old-Time Bluegrass
tagStarted 1940sPeak 1945–1960Last big hit still activeFrom Appalachia, United States
Located in 1 route
Old-time bluegrass is the transition zone where old-time repertory and mountain feel meet the tighter drive, virtuosic breaks, and vocal stack of early bluegrass.
History
Bluegrass did not arrive from nowhere; it hardened out of older string-band practice, gospel quartets, Monroe brother duets, and old-time dance repertory.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Blue Moon of Kentucky — Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass BoysSpotifyYouTube
- Little Maggie — The Stanley BrothersSpotifyYouTube
- Foggy Mountain Breakdown — Flatt and ScruggsSpotifyYouTube
- I'm Using My Bible for a Roadmap — Reno & SmileySpotifyYouTube
- Are You Missing Me — Jim & JesseSpotifyYouTube
- Ruby Are You Mad — The Osborne BrothersSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Folkways
- NPS
- Britannica. citeturn16search0turn8search6turn7search1