I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #283

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.

  • July 10, 1958 Béla Anton Leoš Fleck was born in New York City (not June 10 as we had initially, and erroneously posted). *
  • July 10, 1966 The First International Folk – Bluegrass Festival at Lake Whippoorwill Park, near Warrenton, Virginia took place, starring Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys.
  • July 10, 1976 Bill Monroe and Blue Grass Boys were the first band to appear at the New Deal Music Hall, in Madison, Tennessee, on this opening night.

* Bela Fleck filled in for banjo player Dana Cupp on a video shoot in Nashville.

Fleck is recognized as one of the most adventurous banjo players, working with New Grass Revival, leading his own band the Flecktones and playing and recording with other progressive musicians such as Alison Brown, Edgar Meyer and, more recently Abigail Washburn.

His playing embraces many styles of music as well as bluegrass.

Fleck has made a close study of the history of the banjo, tracing its roots back to Africa, producing a documentary film of his work on the subject.

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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.