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.
- May 28, 1911 Farris Coursey, session musician and WSM staff drummer, was born in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee. *
- May 28, 1927 John Palmer, bass player, was born. **
- May 28, 2007 CD released – Bill Monroe – Country Music Legends (2 CD set) (Castle Pulse PDSCD 683) (UK release) ***
* Farris Coursey played drums at two sessions during 1951. At the first he helped with the recording of Kentucky Waltz and the Gospel quartet Angels Rock Me To Sleep, and later on some of the Jimmie Rodgers’ songs that Bill Monroe recorded.
** John Palmer, who was most closely associated with Don Reno and Red Smiley, is thought to have had a brief spell working for Bill Monroe.
*** Bill Monroe – Country Music Legends, 2 CD set, 41 tracks
Track listing – Uncle Pen, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, New Muleskinner Blues, I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome, Footprints In The Snow, Y’All Come, Sittin’ Alone In The Moonlight, On And On, White House Blues, Happy On My Way, A Voice From On High, Close By, Put My Little Shoes Away, Used To Be, Lord, Protect My Soul, The Brakeman’s Blues, Rocky Road Blues, In The Pines, Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord and Goodbye Old Pal.
Heavy Traffic Ahead, Wicked Path Of Sin, It’s Mighty Dark To Travel, Can’t You Hear Me Callin’, My Little Georgia Rose, I’m On My Way To The Old Home, No Letter In The Mail, Six White Horses, Dog House Blues, I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do, Were You There, Anniversary Blue Yodel (Blue Yodel No. 7), Orange Blossom Special, Honky Tonk Swing, Kentucky Waltz, True Life Blues, Nobody Loves Me, Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong, Travelin’ This Lonesome Road and Little Cabin Home On The Hill.
