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One of the assignments for my JOMC 50 (Electronic Resources) class was to do research and locate sources for something
that would interest us. I decided to do research on Bluegrass Music and Festivals. I hope you enjoy what
I found and please let me know if you have anything to add to what I have here. Thanks!
Bluegrass music is a genre that continues to be popular today with its timeless beats and heartfelt melodies. It has been around for many years and while it still sounds similar to original bluegrass music, it has also picked up new sounds and instruments along the way. The most prominent bluegrass instruments of the past and present are the banjo and the fiddle. Since I play the guitar, I am especially fond of the talent that most bluegrass artists have. I have been to one bluegrass festival called the Black Mountain Music Festival.
I did not know much about the history of bluegrass before this assignment, but I could sense from its old pioneer-like sound that it has probably existed and evolved for years. Since I really didn't know who started the bluegrass sound or where it originated I dedicated part of my research to bluegrass history.
Since I have been to one really cool bluegrass festival I thought it would be fun to check out other
festivals that I might want to go to in the future. I know of a couple festivals held in North Carolina, including the
Black Mountain Music Festival and The Merle Watson Festival. For this reason, I wanted to investigate
other festivals and where they are located.
While bluegrass may not be the most popular music genre today it is one of my favorites and I hope you enjoy
looking at what I learned and at bluegrass links that other music-lovers like myself may enjoy.
1. Rosenberg, Neil V. Bluegrass: a history. Urbana Ill.:
University of Illinois Press, c1985.
Location: Davis, UL Reserves ML3520.r67 1985
2. Cantwell, Robert. Bluegrass Breakdown: the Making of
the Old Southern Sound. Urbana Ill.: University of
Illinois Press, 1984.
Location: Davis, ML3520.C36 1984
3. 1992. Merle Watson Memorial Festival.
Dir. by Michael Sheehan. 120 min. North Carolina
Public Television. [Videocassette.]
Location: NCC, Videocassette, C784.4M564m
4. Eichenberger, Bill. (1995, April 18). One Different Band;
Musicians Can't Resist Appeal of Bluegrass,
Traditional or Otherwise. The Columbus Dispatch
[Online], 768 words. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS
[2001, September 12].
5. Foster, Catherine. (1987, October 9). Musical Crossovers;
New Grass Revival Adventurous Band that won't be
Pigeonholed. The Christian Science Monitor
[Online], 592 words. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS
[2001, September 12].
1. Title of Web page: The Blue Grass Connection
Web address: http://www.gotech.com
Brief Description: The Blue Grass Connection is truly a way to keep up-to-date with
today's bluegrass performers and their festivals. The page has an extensive list of bluegrass performers with
the festivals for each month listed. It also offers to put you on a mailing list and has some other links to
bluegrass sites.
Source: The Bluegrass Connection and gotech
2. Title of Web page: iBluegrass Magazine
Web address: http://www.ibluegrass.com/bg_bands.cfm
Brief Description: iBluegrass Magazine offers basically everything that you would need to know about the
history of bluegrass, the location of bands, festivals, merchandise, reviews, and the list goes on. It has over 26
departments including a link to live bluegrass help. This site definitely does not want the bluegrass lover to be
denied of any bluegrass news.
Source: ibluegrass magazine
3. Title of Web page: Bluegrass Unlimited
Web address: http://www.bluegrass.com
Brief Description: This page is the official site for the Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine which was the first of its
kind when developed in 1966. Its publication and the web site are dedicated to promoting bluegrass and
old-time musicians. It features pretty much anything you would ever want to know about bluegrass including
reviews, news releases, songs, surveys, and much, much more.
Source: Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine
4. Title of Web page: The MerleFest Home page
Web address: http://www.merlefest.org/HomePage.htm#
Brief Description: As I mentioned before, MerleFest is one of the bluegrass festivals that I have heard about for
its incredible performers and fun atmosphere. MerleFest takes place in honor of bluegrass musicians Doc and
Merle Watson. This page offers information on purchasing tickets, the artistsscheduled to perform, video
footage, pictures, venue tours, a virtual MerleFest mall, and more. Some of the artists listed on the page
include Nickel Creek, Patty Loveless (one of my favorites), Jerry Douglass, and many more.
Source: The MerleFest organization; Jim Barrow, managing director
5. Title of Web page: History of Country Music
Web address: http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html
Brief Description: This web site gives a view of not only bluegrass, but also closely-related genres such as
cowboy music, the western swing, and honky tonk. It gives a detailed history of Bill Monroe and bluegrass as
well with music samples including some of Monroe’s big hits.
Source: The Roughstock Network
Bluegrass developed in the 1930’s by “Protestants of rural origin.” (1) Much of the music originated on the farms before the great industrial revolution, and also before radios and recordings were heard in the country. Because of such isolation, music became a large form of entertainment and when radio did become prevalent, many different types of music, including ethnic and rural, were played for the public. This was when a close genre to bluegrass developed, known as hillbilly music. (1)
Bluegrass however, did not develop until the forties and fifties. Usually male performers sang in groups of two or more to the sound of string instruments. Singing tended to be the “focus of the music” and the focus of the music was often religious. (1) While most who helped to create bluegrass were migrant workers, from the Appalachia area, Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass, was not from this area.
Bill Monroe, born in Rosin Kentucky in 1911, grew up playing the blues with a black musician named Arnold Schultz. (2) Monroe “formed the Kentuckians” and moved to Atlanta where he began “the first of the Blue Grass Boys line-ups.” (2) He made some fundamental differences to the sound of the original music by adding mandolin solos. Also, distinctive was the “driving banjo style” which made the sound of bluegrass music complete. (2) Most of all, Monroe and his bluegrass style contributed to the development of what we know as country music today. (2) Other contributors to the sound of bluegrass include Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. They continued to evolve the sound to attract younger audiences.
Bluegrass continues to be a loved genre of music to this day. The crisp sounds and musical talents, along with the atmospheres at the festivals tend to keep loyal fans. Modern day festivals are often held in the mountains around the southeast. Some of these festivals include "Festival in the Pines," "Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek Music Fest," "The Bitterroot Valley Bluegrass Festival," "Summer Wind Blue Grass festival" and the "Arcadia Bluegrass Festival." (3) The artists that perform at these festivals range in age, sound, and origin. Some newer artists include Carolina Road, The Churchmen, Dyer Switch, Mark Newton, Max McGee, and Dean Sapp. (3)
Bluegrass is a fun and lively music genre with much to offer to those who appreciate musical talent. Not only has it contributed to several other music genres, it continues to branch out from what Bill Monroe first developed many years ago.
NOTES:
(1) Neil V. Rosenberg. Bluegrass: a history. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, c1985.
(2) The Roughstock Network. “History of Country Music” [Online]; Available:
http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html; Internet; [Accessed 17 September
2001.]
(3) “The Blue Grass Connection.” [Online]; Available: http://www.gotech.com; Internet; [Accessed 12 September 2001.]
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