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 9, 1964 Recording session -During an evening session at Columbia Recording Studio Bill Monroe recorded Louisville Breakdown, Never Again, Just Over in the Gloryland and Fire on the Mountain. Helping were Jackie Phelps [guitar], Joe Stuart [banjo], Bessie Mauldin [bass] and Benny Williams and Buddy Spicher [fiddle]. The producer was Harry Silverstein. *
- April 9, 1967 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys lead a star-studded cast at the Carter Stanley Memorial Concert, at the Ritchie Coliseum, University Of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. **
- April 9, 2006 Gordon Terry died in Spring Hill, Tennessee, aged 74, following a lengthy battle with diabetes and emphysema. ***
* Never Again and Fire on the Mountain were included on the LP Kentucky Blue Grass (Decca DL 7-5213)
** Carter Stanley, who played guitar with Bill Monroe during the latter half of 1951, died on December 1, 1966.
*** Gordon Terry worked as a sideman for Bill Monroe during the early to mid 1950s.
Terry began his musical adventure as a child, playing with his father and older brothers in a band called Floyd Terry and his Young’uns. Having already appeared on the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 10, he won the Alabama state fiddling title at the age of 14.
After leaving Monroe in 1954, he went to work with country star Faron Young for a few years, before attempting a solo career as a singer around 1957.
Following his discharge from the services, Terry he moved to California where he had a brief career in film and television, appearing in five films over the years and working on the Sky King television series.
In the late 1960s he returned to Tennessee where he worked as a side-man and session musician. Terry recorded several albums of his own including a square dance album recorded with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Health problems eventually forced him to retire from performing in the 1980s.
In 1981 Terry was inducted into the Fiddlers Hall of Fame and in 2006 he was posthumously inducted into The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
