I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #104

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.

  • January 12, 1984 LP released – Bill Monroe and Friends (MCA 5435) *
  • January 12, 1988 Recording session – During an evening session for MCA Records at the Sound Stage Bill Monroe recorded Blue Savannah Waltz, The Days Gone By and Carl Butler’s White Rose. Providing the triple fiddle sound for all three songs was Mike Feagan, Bobby Hicks and Buddy Spicher, and making up the band were Tom Ewing [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo] and Tater Tate [bass]. The producer was Emory Gordy Jr. **

* Bill Monroe and Friends features some of the hottest names in country music at that time, Johnny Cash, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Bros (Rudy and Steve), Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Waylon Jennings, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen [lead], Joe Bonsall [tenor], William Lee Golden [baritone] and Richard Sterban [bass]), Ricky Skaggs and Mel Tillis, each singing on one track on the album.

The album reached number 61 in Billboard‘s Top Country albums chart.

Track Listing – Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Sunset Trail, My Sweet Darlin’, I Still Miss Someone, Kentucky Waltz, My Rose Of Old Kentucky, Is The Blue Moon Still Shining, With Body And Soul, Old River Man and My Louisiana Love.

** The last two titles were included on the album Southern Flavor (MCA-42133).  Blue Savannah Waltz was unreleased.

About life on the road, Mr. Monroe commented once…

“…the roads are wonderful, and to travel in a bus is good for me…and I have got to see every sunset that I can! That means so much to me.”

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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.