I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #1

From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.

  • October 1, 1966 – Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys performed at Rochester University in Rochester, New York.
  • October 1, 2001 – CD released, Bill Monroe – Father Of Bluegrass, Aim Records 3006

Bill Monroe – Father of Bluegrass
Track Listing – Orange Blossom Special, Uncle Pen, Footprints in the Snow, Bluegrass Breakdown, I Saw the Light, Shady Grove, Shenandoah Breakdown, Mule Skinner Blues, Prison Song, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Can’t You Hear Me Calling, Nine Pound Hammer.

“My Uncle Pen was one of Kentucky’s old-time fiddlers, and he had the best shuffle with the bow that I’d ever seen, and kept the best time.  That’s one reason people asked him to play for the dances around Rosine, Kentucky.  In his later years he was a crippled man.  He had been thrown by a mule and had to use crutches the rest of his life.  My last years in Kentucky were spent with him.  He done the cooking for the two of us.  We had fatback, sorghum molasses, and hoe cakes for breakfast, followed up with black-eyed peas with fatback, and cornbread and sorghum for dinner and supper.  I can remember those days so very well.  There were hard times and money was scarce, but also there were good times.  If it was to do over, I’d live them again.”

Bill Monroe

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About the Author

Richard Thompson

Richard F. Thompson is a long-standing free-lance writer specialising in bluegrass music topics. A two-time Editor of British Bluegrass News, he has been seriously interested in bluegrass music since about 1970. As well as contributing to that magazine, he has, in the past 30 plus years, had articles published by Country Music World, International Country Music News, Country Music People, Bluegrass Unlimited, MoonShiner (the Japanese bluegrass music journal) and Bluegrass Europe. He wrote the annotated series I'm On My Way Back To Old Kentucky, a daily memorial to Bill Monroe that culminated with an acknowledgement of what would have been his 100th birthday, on September 13, 2011.