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.
- September 26, 1936 William Gene ‘Billy’ Edwards was born in Tazewell County, Virginia. *
- September 26, 1991 Bill Monroe was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s Hall Of Honor, in Owensboro, Kentucky.
- September 26, 2006 Bill Monroe was honored as the recipient of the Academy Of Country Music Pioneer Award with the formal presentation being made by the President of the ACM, Rod Essig, to Bill’s son James Monroe during the Tuesday Night Opry which staged the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration show that year.
* Billy Edwards played bass with Bill Monroe on a fill-in date during July 1958.
Prior to that, he cut his teeth professionally with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and Hylo Brown and the Timberliners.
Edwards was a member of Reno & Smiley’s band the Blue Grass Cut-Ups with whom he played banjo. In 1969 three of band members, Edwards included, formed the Shenandoah Cut-ups, initially working with Jim Eanes. Later, Edwards became the lead vocalist of the Cut-ups. They released several LPs, most of which were on the Revonah label.
They played on Curly Seckler’s album Sings Again (County) and helped Mac Wiseman in the recording of his New Traditions albums (Vetco).
He passed away in 2005, aged 68.
