Guide Note

Bill Monroe was an American musician credited with inventing the style and name of Bluegrass music. Monroe preformed for sixty years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader.

Fast Facts

1. Genre: Bluegrass
2. Name: William Smith Monroe
3. AKA: "The Father of Bluegrass"
4. Born: September 13, 1911 in Rosine, Kentucky
5. Died: September 9, 1996 in Springfield, Tennessee
6. Active: 1930s-1996, Columbia Records,
7. Labels: RCA Victor
8. Awards: Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
9. Youngest of eight children
10. Orphaned at age 16
11. Made an honorary Kentucky colonel in 1966
12. More than 150 musicians played in the Blue Grass Boys
13. Suffered a stroke in April of 1996

In 1929, Monroe, two of his brothers and a friend formed a group called the Monroe Brothers that played at local dances and parties. After two of the members moved on, the remaining Monroe pair continued as a duo and eventually got to preform on live radio shows. They were signed by RCA Victor in 1936 and produced their first hit single "What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul?." They went on to record 60 more tracks between 1936 and 1938.

After disbanding the Monroe Brothers in 1938, Monroe formed The Kentuckians, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After the band broke up, Monroe moved on to Georgia where he formed The Blue Grass Boys. In 1939, they auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry and were given a regular spot.

Bill Monroe went on to entertain audiences for 60 years, winning many awards and leaving a lasting legacy on bluegrass music.

• 1958: Knee Deep In Bluegrass
• 1967: Bluegrass Time
• 1973: Bean Blossom
• 1977: Bluegrass Memories