David Grisman, aka Dawg, has joined those celebrating Bill Monroe’s 100th birthday with a newly-released CD, Dawg Plays Big Mon – Happy Birthday Bill Monroe (ACD 77).
One Sunday morning in 1961, Ralph Rinzler invited 16-year old David Grisman to see Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys play at New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland. That experience changed Grisman’s life and profoundly affected the musical journey that he took thereafter.
Now in celebration of Big Mon’s centennial, the Dawg has assembled an amazing collection of musical Monroebillia featuring some of Monroe’s greatest compositions and two original tributes. The set features Grisman with a host of acoustic music legends, including Red Allen, Ray Brown, Jethro Burns, Vassar Clements, Jerry Garcia, John Hartford, Tony Rice, Mike Seeger and Doc Watson.
There are ten tracks that are previously unissued live and studio performances, including an 11-minute interview of Bill Monroe by Ralph Rinzler that Grisman recorded in 1965.
A full track listing follows, annotated with the composer’s name…..
New Muleskinner Blues (Jimmy Rodgers), Happy Birthday Bill Monroe (David Grisman), Uncle Pen (Bill Monroe), I’m Rollin’ On* (traditional), Kentucky Waltz* (Bill Monroe), On & On* (Bill Monroe), Watson Blues (Bill Monroe), My Little Georgia Rose* (Bill Monroe), Wayfaring Stranger (traditional), In the Pines* (Bill Monroe), Roanoke (Bill Monroe), Wicked Path of Sin (Bill Monroe), Bluegrass Stomp* (Bill Monroe), Letter from My Darlin’ (Bill Monroe), B Natural (Grisman-McCoury), Bury Me Beneath the Willow (traditional), Lonesome Moonlight Waltz (Bill Monroe), John Henry* (traditional), Rawhide* (Bill Monroe), My Last Days on Earth* (Bill Monroe), Ralph Rinzler Interviews Bill Monroe*
Those marked with an asterisk are previously unissued recordings; the names after the song title are those of the songwriter.
For more information, including a copy of the liner notes go the Acoustic Disc website.
