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.
- June 6, 1931 Charlie Cline was born in Baisden, West Virginia. *
- June 6, 1939 Dan Jones was born. **
- June 6, 1964 LP released – The Best of Bill Monroe (Harmony HL 7315) ***
- June 6, 1994 Overdub session for Shawn Camp – Bill Monroe [singing tenor] along with Tom Ewing [lead], Dana Cupp [baritone] and ‘Tater’ Tate [bass] add their vocal parts to pre-recorded tracks for the song Worn Through Stone. ****
- June 6, 2006 Bob Jamieson died at the North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, Mississippi, aged 90. *****
* Charlie Cline was a regular member of the Blue Grass Boys from 1952 to 1955. He was featured on all bluegrass instruments except the bass.
He played fiddle during several sessions during that period, recording 38 numbers including Footprints In the Snow, Memories of Mother and Dad, The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake, Pike County Breakdown, Get Up John, On And On, Sitting Alone in the Moonlight, Close By, Blue Moon of Kentucky Roanoke, and the quartet Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus, on which he sings the baritone part.
** Dan Jones was employed by Bill Monroe to play guitar for a three month spell from June to October 1971.
He was not involved in any recording sessions.
Jones played mandolin with Bluegrass Alliance, the Goins Brothers and Art Stamper.
*** The Best of Bill Monroe (aka Bill Monroe’s Best); Harmony was a low-cost line in the Columbia Records group. 10 tracks
Track listing – Bluegrass Special, Goodbye Old Pal, True Life Blues, California Blues (Blue Yodel No 4), Mansions For Me, Summertime Is Past And Gone, Toy Heart, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong and Old Crossroad Is Waiting.
**** The recording of the Shawn Camp – John Scott Sherrill song was never released as Warner Brothers for whom Camp was contracted to record dropped him from their roster.
***** Fiddle player Bob Jamieson was the first musician that Bill Monroe hired after the split from his brother Charlie.
After Bill Monroe moved to Nashville, Jamieson continued to play music, but only on a part-time basis. In 1941, he and wife moved to Memphis where he worked at the Army’s Defense Depot.
