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.
- April 8, 1950 Recording session – During an afternoon session at Castle Studio Bill Monroe recorded I’ll Meet You in Church Sunday Morning, Boat of Love and The Old Fiddler for Decca. ?Also in the studio were Jimmy Martin [guitar], Rudy Lyle [banjo] and Joel Price [bass] and Vassar Clements [fiddle], who played fiddle on The Old Fiddler only.
- April 8, 1958 Recording session – During a session at Bradley Film & Recording Studio Bill Monroe recorded two instrumentals; Panhandle Country and Scotland. Assisting were Edd Mayfield [guitar], Joe Drumright [banjo], Bessie Lee Mauldin [bass], and Kenny Baker and Bobby Hicks [fiddles]. *
- April 8, 1978 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys played at the Byrd Family presentation of the Masters Bluegrass Music Festival, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, Augusta, Georgia. The band performed on the Saturday night of this three day event.
- April 8, 1989 The Sonneck Society for American Music, meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, named Bill Monroe an honorary member. **
- April 8, 2002 CD released – Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky 1936-1949 (Bear Family BF BCD 16399 FL) ***
- April 8, 2005 Lloyd McCormick died in Gallatin, Tennessee, aged 81. He had been in failing health for a while.
* Panhandle Country and Scotland are included on the LP Bluegrass Instrumentals (Decca DL 4601), released on June 14, 1965.
** “By conferring honorary membership on Bill Monroe, the ‘father of bluegrass music’, the Sonneck Society recognizes a living treasure of American music. No other person in our musical history has done so much by himself to create a whole new genre, one that continues to thrive, evolve, and inspire performers and listeners alike.”
Judy McCulloh
*** Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky 1936-1949 (Bear Family BF BCD 16399 FL) 6-CD Box-set and 88-page book
6-CD LP-six box set with illustrated 88-page book. From 1936-1949, Bill Monroe made a series of recordings that laid the foundation for what is today called bluegrass. This collection brings together, for the first time, the complete works from that seminal era. It includes all 60 of the Monroe Brothers duets from 1936-38, all 16 of the 1940-41 performances that marked the very first appearance of Monroe’s recordings under his own name, and all of the Columbia sessions from 1945-49, including the revolutionary sides with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and Chubby Wise. An added bonus is the inclusion of every alternate take from the Columbia sessions, a total of 50 previously unheard and unreleased out-takes, including an un-numbered master of a gospel song that was not even known to exist. (Product Description)
Track listing – My Long Journey Home – Monroe Brothers; What Is Home Without Love – Monroe Brothers; What Would You Give In Exchange – Monroe Brothers; Little Red Shoes – Monroe Brothers; Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy – Monroe Brothers; On Some Foggy Mountain Top – Monroe Brothers; Drifting Too Far From the Shore – Monroe Brothers; In My Dear Old Southern Home – Monroe Brothers; New River Train – Monroe Brothers; World Is Not My Home – Monroe Brothers; Watermelon Am Hanging’ On That Vine – Monroe Brothers; On The Banks Of The Ohio – Monroe Brothers; Do You Call That Religion – Monroe Brothers; God Holds The Future In His Hands – Monroe Brothers; You’ve Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley – Monroe Brothers; Six Months Ain’t Long – Monroe Brothers; Just A Song Of Old Kentucky – Monroe Brothers; Don’t Forget Me – Monroe Brothers; I’m Going – Monroe Brothers; Darling Corey – Monroe Brothers; My Saviour’s Train – Monroe Brothers; I Am Thinking Tonight Of The Old Folks – Monroe Brothers; Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You – Monroe Brothers; Old Cross Road – Monroe Brothers; Forgotten Soldier Boy – Monroe Brothers; I’ve Read Of A Place Called Heaven – Monroe Brothers; Will The Circle Be Unbroken – Monroe Brothers; Saints Go Marching In – Monroe Brothers; Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms – Monroe Brothers
Where Is My Sailor Boy – Monroe Brothers; I Am Ready To Go – Monroe Brothers; What Would The Profit Be – Monroe Brothers; Some Glad Day – Monroe Brothers; I Have Found The Way – Monroe Brothers; Kate Cline – Monroe Brothers; Roll On Buddy – Monroe Brothers; Weeping Willow Tree – Monroe Brothers; I’ll Live On – Monroe Brothers; Oh Hide You In The Blood – Monroe Brothers; What Would You Give In Exchange [part 2] – Monroe Brothers; On That Gospel Ship – Monroe Brothers; What Would You Give In Exchange [part 3] – Monroe Brothers; Let Us Be Lovers Again – Monroe Brothers; All The Good Times Are Passed And Gone – Monroe Brothers; What Would You Give In Exchange [part 4] – Monroe Brothers; On My Way To Glory – Monroe Brothers; My Last Moving Day – Monroe Brothers; He Will Set Your Fields On Fire – Monroe Brothers; Sinner You Better Get Ready – Monroe Brothers; Have A Feast Here Tonight – Monroe Brothers; Goodbye Maggie – Monroe Brothers; Rollin’ On – Monroe Brothers; Old Man’s Story – Monroe Brothers; I’ve Still Got Ninety Nine – Monroe Brothers; Little Joe – Monroe Brothers; Beautiful Life – Monroe Brothers; Pearly Gates – Monroe Brothers; On My Way Back Home – Monroe Brothers
When Our Lord Shall Come Again – Monroe Brothers; Mule Skinner Blues – Monroe Brothers; No Letter In The Mail, Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord, Six White Horses, Dog House Blues, I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do, Katy Hill [instrumental], Tennessee Blues, Shake My Mother’s Hand For Me, Were You There, Blue Yodel No.7, Coupon Song, Orange Blossom Special, Honky Tonk Swing [instrumental], In The Pines, Back Up And Push [instrumental], Rocky Road Blues; Kentucky Waltz, True Life Blues; Nobody Loves Me; Goodbye Old Pal, Footprints In The Snow, I’ll Have A New Life, Bluegrass Special [instrumental], Come Back To Me In My Dreams, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Why Did You Wander, Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Toy Heart, Summertime Is Past And Gone, Mansions For Me; Mother’s Only Sleeping, Blue Yodel No.4, Will You Be Loving Another Man, How Will I Explain About You, Shining Path, Wicked Path Of Sin, I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky, It’s Mighty Dark To Travel, I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling, Little Cabin Home On The Hill, My Rose Of Old Kentucky, Bluegrass Breakdown [instrumental], Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong, Old Crossroad, That Home Above, Remember The Cross, Little Community Church, Along About Daybreak, When You Are Lonely, Molly And Tenbrooks, Shine Hallelujah Shine, I’m Travelling On And On, Can’t You Hear Me Callin’
Travellin’ This Lonely Road, Bluegrass Stomp, Girl In The Blue Velvet Band, Kentucky Waltz [take 2], True Life Blues [takes 2/3/4], Nobody Loves Me [takes breakdown 1 and 3], Goodbye Old Pal [take 2], Footprints In The Snow [take 2], Bluegrass Special [instrumental takes 2 and 3], Heavy Traffic Ahead [take 2], Why Did You Wander [take 2], Summertime Is Past And Gone [takes breakdown 1 and 2/take 2/take breakdown 3], Blue Yodel No.4 [take 2], Will You Be Loving Another Man [take 2], How Will I Explain About You [takes 2 and 3], Wicked Path Of Sin [take 2], It’s Mighty Dark To Travel [take 2], I‘m Going Back To Old Kentucky [take breakdown 2], It’s Mighty Dark To Travel [take 3], Little Cabin Home On The Hill [take 2]
My Rose Of Old Kentucky [take 2], Bluegrass Breakdown [instrumental/takes 2 and 3], Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong [takes breakdown 1 and 2/take 2 and 3], Old Crossroad [takes breakdown 1/2/3/take 3], That Home Above [take breakdown], Remember The Cross [take 2], Along About Daybreak [take 2], Little Community Church [take breakdown 2], Along About Daybreak [take breakdown], Molly And Tenbrooks [take 2], Shine Hallelujah Shine [take 2], I’m Travelling On And On [take 2], Can’t You Hear Me Callin’ [takes breakdown 2/3/4], Travellin’ This Lonesone Road [take 2], Bluegrass Stomp [instrumental/takes breakdown 2 and 3], Girl In The Blue Velvet Band [takes 2 and 3].
