This week we conclude our two part feature Bluegrass 101 with a program focusing on the Innovators. Almost from it’s conception players began to alter the music much to the dismay of Bill Monroe. This week we’ll hear some of those innovators including The Country Gentlemen, Old and In the Way, Alison Brown and some remarkable recordings made by Bill Monroe with melodic Bluegrass banjoist Bill Keith. Bluegrass Innovators on the next Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / CD / Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways
Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys / “Devil’s Dream” / Bill Monroe 1959-1969 / Bear Family
The Country Gentlemen / “Handsome Molly” / On the Road / Vanguard
The Dillards / “Walkin’ Down the Line” / Live!!! Almost!!! / Elektra
The Charles River Valley Boys / “Ticket to Ride” / Beatle Country / Rounder
Doc Watson & Clarence White / “Beaumont Rag” / Long Journey Home / Vanguard

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Jimmy Martin / “Sunny Side of the Mountain” / Will the Circle Be Unbroken / Liberty
Old & In The Way / “High Lonesome Sound” / That High Lonesome Sound / Acoustic Disc
Muleskinner / “Muleskinner Blues” / A Potpourri of Bluegrass Jam / Sierra
Country Cooking / “Big Ben” / Country Cooking / Rounder
J D Crowe and the New South / “I’m Walkin’” / JD Crowe and the New South / Rounder
Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys / “Devil’s Dream” / Bill Monroe 1959-1969 / Bear Family

Earl Scruggs / “Never Ending Song of Love” / I Saw the Light / Columbia-Legacy
The New Grass Revival / “Spring Peepers” / Barren County / Flying Fish
Alison Krauss / “Down to the River to Pray” / O Brother Where Art Thou / Lost Highway

Alison Brown / “G Bop” / Quartet / Vanguard
Steve Martin / “Late For School” / The Crow / Self Produced
Steep Canyon Rangers / “Diamonds in the Dust” / Radio / Rounder
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways