Noted bluegrass writer/journalist and musician Jon Weisberger has written another fine tribute to Louise Scruggs which can be read in the online version The Nashville Scene, a free arts and culture newsprint publication widely read by music industry professionals in Nashville. Jon recaps her life and the impact she made on the music business, and also includes some quotes from an interview she gave to The Nashville Scene, last year.
A reserved but iron-willed woman who was raising two young sons at the time she began assuming responsibility for Flatt & Scruggs” business, Louise had been interested in business from her childhood. She wasn”t surprised by the resistance she encountered. “They always wanted to talk to Earl,” she recalled in a 2005 interview with the Scene. “But I would say, “No, you have to go through me anyway, so you might as well talk to me now and then we”ll get this settled.” “
Read the whole article here.
Jon also links to a fascinating recent interview with both Earl and Louise Scruggs conducted by Alan Chartock for WAMC radio in NY. Chartock is professor emeritus at the University at Albany, and an amateur banjo player in addition to his work on radio. The wide ranging 30 minute interview is devoted as much to Louise as Earl, and includes some classic music clips as well.
Earl describes how he came to join Bill Monroe’s band, how he developed his three finger style, and discusses his participation in Viet Nam war protests in the 1970s. Louise recalls the genesis of Flatt & Scruggs’ involvement with The Beverly Hillbillies TV show, and the day that Warren Beatty called to talk to Earl about scoring the music for Bonnie & Clyde.
Serious students and fans of Flatt & Scruggs or Earl and Louise Scruggs won’t learn much new from the radio interview, but anyone who would enjoy hearing a recap of their long careers and contributions to the music will surely enjoy giving it a listen.
