I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #169

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.

  • March 18, 1934 Carlos Brock was born near Hyden, Leslie County, Kentucky. *
  • March 18, 1968 LP released – I Saw The Light (Decca 7-8769 (stereo)) ** ? 
  • March 18, 1969 Vic Jordan played his last date with the Blue Grass Boys.
  • March 18, 1974 RCA recorded Lester Flatt concert – Bill Monroe made a guest appearance during Lester Flatt’s concert at Vanderbilt University’s Neely Auditorium, a show that was recorded by RCA, Flatt’s record label at the time.  ***
  • March 18, 1986 Recording session – During a two-part session at the Sound Emporium Bill Monroe recorded Texas Lone Star, I Love the State of Virginia, Angels Rock Me to Sleep and The Long Bow. Assisting during the session were Wayne Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo] and Tater Tate [bass], and Bobby Hicks and Buddy Spicher [fiddle]. The producer was Emory Gordy, Jr. ****
  • March 18, 1998 The legal transfer of the Bean Blossom site from James Monroe to Brown County Jamboree Inc. was completed.

* Carlos Brock, a rhythm, lead guitar and vocalist, joined the Blue Grass Boys sometime during 1954 and stayed with the group until August 1955.

He wasn’t involved in any Decca recording sessions at that time, but he was featured in an Al Gannaway-produced video recording of Roanoke Breakdown (sic).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXkwthWiMFk

From The Country Show: with Stars of the Grand Ole Opry, 1955.

As have many bluegrass musicians, Brock started off playing with kinfolk before moving further afield. Later he joined up with Sonny Osborne and Enos Johnson working on WPFB in Middletown, Ohio, and was a member of the band that helped Osborne with his first recordings for Gateway.

Also, he was an original member of the Country Pardners group, a dynamic early bluegrass band from the Cincinnati area. They did several excellent recordings for RCA, some of which have been re-issued by Rounder Records as part of its fine The Early Days of Bluegrass series.

** Bill Monroe – I Saw the Light. The mono version of this album was released on August 11, 1958.

Track listing – I Saw the Light, I’ll Meet you in the Morning, Life’s Railway to heaven, Lord Lead Me On, Wayfaring Stranger, A Beautiful Life, Precious Memories, House of Gold, I’ve Found A Hiding Place, Jesus Hold My Hand, I Am A Pilgrim and Lord, Build Me A Cabin In Glory.

*** Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys were guests of Lester Flatt’s during an evening concert in Nashville.

Monroe participated in the recording of eight songs, singing lead or tenor on Uncle Pen, Blue Moon of Kentucky, My Old Used To Be, Will You Be Lovin’ Another Man, My Little Cabin on the Hill, Crying Holy Unto the Lord and Mule Skinner Blues (an encore).

The Blue Grass Boys backing Bill Monroe were Bill Box [guitar], James Moratto [banjo], Kenny Baker [fiddle] and Gregg Kennedy [bass].

Backing Lester Flatt were Curly Seckler [guitar], Kenneth Ingram [banjo], Marty Stuart [mandolin], Paul Warren [fiddle], Charles Nixon [Dobro] and Johnny Montgomery [bass].

Originally released on RCA Victor, Lester Flatt Live! Bluegrass Festival. With Guest Bill Monroe. (APL1-0588) in 1974 when it featured Bill Monroe on three songs (Blue Moon of Kentucky, Will You Be Lovin’ Another Man and My Little Cabin on the Hill), the whole concert was made available by Bear Family Records (BCD 16614 AH) in 2002 with the title Live at Vanderbilt.

The producer was Bob Ferguson.

**** The recordings of Angels Rock Me to Sleep and The Long Bow were included on the album Bluegrass ‘87 (MCA 5970), released in LP format on January 9, 1987.

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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.