• Kaz Inaba honors Earl Scruggs

    Noted Japanese bluegrass artist Kazuhiro Inaba sent along this video tribute to the late Earl Scruggs. I played “The Scruggs Medley” with my great respect and appreciation for Earl Scruggs last night at Mister Kelly’s in Osaka. Since I started to play

  • Earl: Exceptional Efficiency, Extreme Elegance

    This commemoration of Earl Scruggs comes from Jack Hatfield, who has earned his living teaching Scruggs' music for almost 40 years. His Scruggs Corner columns for Banjo Newsletter are collectors items, as they contained start-to-finish transcriptions from Scruggs recordings, including

  • Doug Dillard recovery continues

    Some good news on the banjo legend front... Doug Dillard has been released from the hospital. He was admitted into a rehab facility on Monday, and his wife, Vikki, tells us that Doug is in good spirits and eager to get

  • J.D. Crowe to hang up his banjo

    Another banjo milestone is about to be passed. The great J.D. Crowe has announced his intention to retire from performing at the end of 2012. He will turn 75 years old this summer. Crowe is widely regarded as among the most

  • Et tu, Dennis?

    It seems that the venerable Dennis The Menace comic strip has jumped on the banjo bandwagon - but not for the reason that most 5 stringers would admit. Yesterday's (4/9) panel finds Dennis wanting to take up the banjo because of

  • Flatt & Scruggs show poster

    The passing of Earl Scruggs has brought a great many emotions to the fore, along with some wonderful memories from those who knew him, and those who have enjoyed his music over the years. We've been fortunate to be able to

  • Ryan Cavanaugh on Earl Scruggs

    This Earl Scruggs tribute is a contribution from avant-garde and jazz banjo pioneer, Ryan Cavanaugh. I was fortunate enough to have a few conversations with our hero Earl Scruggs, and having spent my formative years in an extensive study of his

  • Dick Bowden on Earl Scruggs

    I grew up way Downeast in Maine surrounded by a country music loving family and friends. In the early 50s. By the time I started school in 1958 I was hearing the sounds of Flatt & Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, Bill Clifton,

  • Jim Mills remembers Earl Scruggs

    This remembrance of the great Earl Scruggs comes from former Ricky Skaggs banjo player, celebrated recording artist and avid banjo collector, Jim Mills. First of all, let me say that Earl Scruggs was my all time hero on this earth. He

  • Barney McKenna passes

    Tim Carter, who posted his thoughts on losing Earl Scruggs yesterday to our Remembering Earl Scruggs page (for reader tributes), shared some sad news about the passing of another legendary banjo player, this time of the four stringed variety. "We've lost