I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #239

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.

  • May 27, 1931 L E White was born in Blaine, Tennessee.  *
  • May 27, 1933 Bill Monroe, along with his brothers Charlie and Birch, were part of a dance troupe sponsored by the WLS National Barn Dance that performed at the Chicago World’s Fair. **
  • May 27, 1938 Vivian Williams was born in Tacoma, Washington.  ***

* White played fiddle for Bill Monroe for a short period during 1953.

He was not involved in any recording sessions while a member of the Blue Grass Boys.

** The fair, known as A Century of Progress, was sited on land under the jurisdiction of South Park commissioners. It was located adjacent to the shore of Lake Michigan between 12th and 39th streets. Located south of the Navy Pier in Chicago, the site of A Century of Progress had 424 acres of lake shore and was within walking distance of Chicago’s downtown.

It was opened on May 27, 1933.

Originally, the fair was scheduled only to run until November 12, 1933, but it was so successful that it was opened again to run from May 26 to October 31, 1934

*** Vivian Williams filled in during a show on May 5, 1967.

Primarily an old-time music fiddler, she plays in the styles found among fiddlers in the Pacific Northwest, where she resides.

She has a large catalog of recordings, most of which have been released on Voyager, a label that she, along with her husband Phil, owns and operates.