• A new King of Bluegrass?

    Brian Baker, writing for CityBeat Cincinnati, recently suggested that we coronate a new King of Bluegrass. His suggestion as to who should wear the crown? Ralph Stanley. His reasoning for recognizing Stanley is certainly sound, but his premise is wrong. If Monroe was

  • Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation news

    Rich Hersberger, the Secretary of the Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation (BBJF), has announced that the fund raising efforts to help buy the Indiana music park previously owned and managed by Bill Monroe realized nearly $5,000 during the recent Uncle Pen

  • The Sunny Side Of Appalachia

    West Virginia author B. L. Dotson-Lewis has published her third book on the people and culture of the Appalachian region. The Sunny Side of Appalachia: Bluegrass from the Grassroots traces the early days of the music through first person

  • Top stars to honor Bill Monroe

    Some of bluegrass music's top present-day stars will honor Bill Monroe on September 30 in the annual Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration, which will take place on Tuesday, September 30 at the Opry House in Nashville. The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration, presented

  • New Bill Monroe book

    September is very significant in the life of Bill Monroe, inasmuch as it is the month when he was born (September 13, 1911), and and the one in which he passed away (September 9, 1996). Recently, I learned of a new

  • Father Of Bluegrass Music on DVD

    Some of our readers may have seen a video documentary on Bill Monroe in the mid 1990s called Bill Monroe - Father Of Bluegrass Music. It aired on several PBS affiliate stations and The Nashville Network (TNN), and was briefly

  • Bill Monroe Mandolin Update

    Monroe's mandolin is still housed in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. If it is to stay there, the museum may be required to divvy up $1.5 million. For the back story, be sure to read our previous two

  • Bill Monroe and Ibanez mandolins

    We've been in contact this past weekend with the administrators of a new web site devoted to the Ibanez mandolins made in Japan during the 1970s. IbanezMandolin.com publishes exclusive editorial content that explores the history of the mandolins and is compiling

  • Fate of Monroe’s Mandolin still uncertain

    The Tennessean is reporting this morning on the terms of a settlement between MTSU and the estate of Bob McLean. As we reported in October of 2007, McLean defrauded investors of millions and then generously spread the money around. Some