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.
- October 22, 1949 Recording session – Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys had their first recording session in Nashville; at the Tulane Hotel. It was Monroe’s last session for Columbia. The band – Monroe, Mac Wiseman, Rudy Lyle, Chubby Wise and Jack Thompson – recorded four songs; Can’t You Hear Me Calling, Travelin’ This Lonesome Road, Blue Grass Stomp and The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band. However, alternate takes of each have been released commercially, as singles and on a recent Bear Family CD box set (see Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky, BCD 16399 FL, released 2002).
- October 22, 1961 Neil Rosenberg played banjo, filling in for the regular banjo player in the Blue Grass Boys. While a student at the University of Indiana, Rosenberg played in the house band at Bean Blossom for several years starting in 1961. In 1963 he also managed the park. During this time, he filled in on several occasions. He is the proud owner of Blue Grass Boys’ belt buckle #120. *
- October 22, 2000 South Salyer died aged 73.
* “On each of the three dates mentioned (9/24/1961, 10/22/1961 and 9/12/1965) Bill arrived at Bean Blossom without a banjo player. I don’t know why. I’d met Bill in June 1961 and he heard me play then, as did Shorty and Juanita Shehan, who were acting as the house band. That summer and fall I worked in the house band with them, so Bill knew I was there. I believe there was one other Sunday in 1961 for which I don’t have a date. At the time of the 1965 show, Don Lineberger had left the Blue Grass Boys and Lamar Grier had been hired but was in the process of moving to Nashville from Washington so that was why Bill asked me to play that day.”
Neil V. Rosenberg
