Bluegrass

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Alison Krauss

Bluegrass was born of old-time traditional music but that form is not the sole contributor. Gospel, blues, and jazz directly influenced bluegrass music as it was formed in 1940s Appalachia, though it was not called bluegrass until about a decade later. Bill Monroe, and his “Blue Grass Boys” were the key developers of the unique sound that sprang from old-time music only a decade before the rise of rock and roll. They combined a three-fingered banjo style, with a mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo to rev up the tempo of traditional music, creating a new and energetic style that defined the genre. A typical bluegrass song allowed each instrumentalist to shine on their own with solos tied to the overarching melody, while also playing a supporting rhythm when their bandmates soloed. Bluegrass has been ultimately described as “folk music in overdrive.”

The men who brought us bluegrass:

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe - a song with two distinct tempos, seperately exemplifying the two genres - later made famous by Elvis Presley.

"Foggy Mountain Special" by Flatt and Scruggs - a song that exemplifies the passing of the lead melody, a hallmark of bluegrass.