EARL SCRUGGS

No one has done more to popularize the banjo than the masterful instrumentalist Earl Scruggs. Scruggs developed his extraordinary three-fingered picking technique (in contrast to the old clawhammer style) during his childhood in the hills of North Carolina. After performing as a teen, he joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1945, helping to define the evolving sound of bluegrass with his intricate and speedy sound. He and guitarist Lester Flatt particularly complemented each other's styles, and they eventually left Monroe's band to find success as a duo. In 1969, Scruggs dissolved the partnership and began performing more rock-oriented material with his sons. He has continued to expand his musical repertoire since the 1960s, performing in a diversity of styles and collaborating with artists of all stripes. His extraordinary talent is showcased on numbers like "Earl's Breakdown" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."

Courtesy of palmpictures.com

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