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.
- November 15, 1964 Nashville, Indiana, TV salesman and guitarist Marvin Hedrick deputised for Peter Rowan, playing his only date as a Blue Grass Boy. **
- November 15, 1974 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys were hosts of Bill Monroe’s South Georgia Bluegrass Festival, Waycross, Georgia.
- November 15, 1980 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys moved into new territory as the group performed in concert at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Camellia City, Sacramento, California.
- November 15, 2010 A 15-second advert featuring Bill Monroe was shown for the first time on a digital full-motion billboard on New York’s West 42nd Street. *
* The spot in New York’s Times Square, featuring the late father of bluegrass music, the music generally and Owensboro, Kentucky, was paid for by the convention and visitors bureau for Owensboro and Daviess County, Kentucky. It was arranged to help the promotion of the Kentucky celebration of the centennial of Monroe’s birth.
Running 18 times a day for 48 days the advert featured the convention bureau’s website: www.BillMonroe100birthday.com
** As well as being soundman there, Hedrick played a lot on the Brown County Jamboree, so he was ideally placed to fill in for Rowan on this show at Bean Blossom.
