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 23, 1958 LP released – Knee Deep In Blue Grass (Decca DL 8731) *
- June 23, 1958 EP released – Cry Cry Darlin’ / Roane County Prison / Molly And Tenbrooks / Brand New Shoes (Decca ED 2585)
- June 23, 1967 The third day of the first outdoor bluegrass festival took place at Bean Blossom.
- June 23, 1974 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys made a personal appearance at a Bluegrass Day, presented by Warrenton – Fauquier Jaycees at Lake Whippoorwill, Warrenton, Virginia.
- June 23, 1980 Ted Lundy died. **
- June 23, 1983 Bill Monroe played Evening Prayer Blues at a service for DeFord Bailey, the legendary black harmonica player who wrote the piece.
- June 23, 1994 Raymond W McLain filled in, playing bass, with the Blue Grass Boys.
* Knee Deep In Bluegrass , 12 tracks
Track listing – Cry Cry Darling, Roane County Prison, Goodbye Old Pal, Out In The Cold World, Good Woman’s Love, In Despair, Come Back To Me In My Dreams, Lonesome Road, Sally-Jo, Brand New Shoes, Molly And Tenbrooks and Sittin’ On Top Of The World.
(re-issued in 1975 on MCA-527. Also re-issued on Blue Grass Style (Vocalion VL 7-3870) with two songs, Lonesome Road and Molly And Tenbrooks, omitted. This LP was released on December 30, 1969.)
** Ted Lundy did a fill-in job for Bill Monroe during 1959.
Lundy learned to play guitar and banjo from an early age, firstly playing the latter in a clawhammer style after his father, before switching to the Scruggs style.
He worked with Jimmy Williams and the Shady Valley Boys and Alex Campbell and Ole Belle and the New River Boys before founding the Southern Mountain Boys with mandolin player Fred Hannah, guitarist Bob Paisley and fiddler Jerry Lundy, Ted’s second cousin and the son of illustrious old-time fiddler Emmett Lundy.
The Southern Mountain Boys have releases on the New River label, GHP and Rounder Records.
Lundy committed suicide.
