The bluegrass genre is experiencing a resurgence in today’s music scene. From someone who has been listening to the genre for decades, it is very gratifying to see bands like Greensky Bluegrass and Railroad Earth continuing the time-honored tradition of bluegrass music. Not to mention the role that it plays in the work of Phish, String Cheese, and more.

Bluegrass is one of the most beloved American musical art forms, taking root as settlers began to spread into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The pioneers wrote simple songs about daily life, but what started as mountain country music developed into an intricate art. With complex melodies played on mostly-acoustic instruments, the music is intoxicating. Check out these ten essential songs that typify the history of this essentially American genre.

1. Bill Monroe – “Uncle Pen” 

Legendary performer Bill Monroe is often nicknamed the father of Bluegrass Music. Bluegrass came into its own in 1939, when Monroe parted ways with his brother to form Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. Monroe, a Kentucky native, named his backing band by the state’s nickname, “The Bluegrass State.” Monroe created a distinct sound, distinguishing bluegrass from country in a way that still influences Bluegrass artists today. 

Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys mixed guitar, bass, mandolin, and banjo, and the resulting sound still thrives today. Monroe himself was an expert singer, mandolin player, and song writer, penning dozens of hits including the enduring classic, “Uncle Pen.” 

2. The Stanley Brothers – “Man Of Constant Sorrow”

The Stanley Brothers were the first of many to follow in the footsteps of Bill Monroe. Started in the late 40s and into the 50s, with brothers Ralph on banjo and Carter on guitar, the duo developed a unique sound with strong emotions with deceptively simple lyrics. The song “Man of Constant Sorrow” is perhaps best known from the soundtrack of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” but the song is deeply rooted in bluegrass tradition. According to Ralph Stanley, the tune was already hundreds of years old when he was a child, and both he and his father added some words to complete their interpretation of the classic. Listen:

3. Flatt and Scruggs – “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”

Lester Flatt, who had been the guitarist for Bill Monroe’s band, broke away and formed the Foggy Mountain Boys with the banjoist Earl Scruggs. By the 50’s and 60’s, Flatt & Scruggs, with a rotating cast of musicians, easily became some of the most notable bluegrass musicians in America. Scruggs was one of the finest banjo pickers to have ever played, and Flatts’ smooth vocal and great guitar playing elevated the pair to greatness. 

While they are noted for their TV show theme songs, like “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” and “Petticoat Junction,” a more apt example of their incredible acumen is “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” Listen to those two flying: 

4. Ricky Skaggs – “Can’t You Hear Me Calling”

Master mandolin player Ricky Skaggs is no doubt one of the finest mandolin players to have ever graced the music scene. Active since the 1960’s, Skaggs’ dedication to promoting bluegrass music is unparalleled. His cover of Bill Monroe’s classic “Can’t You Hear Me Calling” exemplifies the genre: great harmonies and tight musicianship.

5. Charlie Daniels Band – “Devil Went Down To Georgia”

One of the most famous bluegrass songs ever, “Devil Went Down To Georgia,” skyrocketed the career of singer/guitarist Charlie Daniels in 1979. However, Daniels had been writing, performing, and producing since the early 1950’s. Before “Devil” was even created, Daniels  played bass on three Bob Dylan albums, wrote a song that was later recorded by Elvis Presley, and played fiddle with Hank Williams Jr. From that standpoint, it seems his Grammy award for “Devil” was inevitable. Check out the classic tune below:

6. Del McCoury – “Mountain Song”

Like Lester Flatt, Del McCoury got his start as the guitarist for Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, performing with them at the Grand Ole Opry. However, it wasn’t until his sons Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury started playing with him, in the 1980s, that The Del McCoury Band really got off the ground. Since 2008, McCoury has hosted his own festival, DelFest, which continues to breathe life into the bluegrass scene.

Listen to one of the most beloved Del McCoury Band originals, “Mountain Song,” below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldnZnjGBGXw

7. Doc Watson – “Stagger Lee”

Countrified Bluegrass performer Doc Watson, winner of eight Grammy awards, was born in North Carolina in 1923 and came into prominence in the 50’s and 60’s. Blinded by an eye infection when he was an infant, Watson was a wonderful storyteller with a smooth tenor voice. His song, “Stagger Lee” is considered one of the great American folk songs. 

8. New Grass Revival – “Can’t Stop Now”

Mandolinist Sam Bush is often considered the founder of “New Grass,” a genre that blends bluegrass traditions with progressive elements of rock and jazz music. The term “New Grass” actually comes from Bush’s former band, The New Grass Revival, which included luminaries like Bela Fleck, Ebo Walker, and many more. The band was active from 1971-1989, and has since influenced countless groups, including String Cheese, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Cabinet, and more. Sam Bush is still active, performing worldwide, as is Bela Fleck. 

9. Alison Krauss and Union Station – “Every Time You Say Goodbye”

Over the past 20 years, Alison Krauss’ sweet soprano voice continues to captivate many. An exquisite fiddle player, it’s no wonder that Robert Plant approached her with an interest to record a collaborative album. Her catalog speaks for itself; she is one of the greatest Bluegrass performers in the business today. Listen to her beautiful song, “Every Time You Say Goodbye,” below:

10. Jerry Garcia and David Grisman – “Friend of the Devil” 

Grateful Dead icon Jerry Garcia very influenced by folk/bluegrass music, adding an eclectic part to the band’s mish-mosh of stylistic inputs. Only later did Garcia go back to his roots, teaming up with mandolinist David Grisman for several Bluegrass albums in the 1990s. Grisman’s roots are not typical of bluegrass artists, growing up in a Jewish household in Hackensack, NJ. Grisman and Garcia met at a Bill Monroe concert (go figure!), and the rest was history.

The bluegrass version of the classic “Friend of the Devil” is a haunting and wonderful interpretation from the Grateful Dead beloved classic. 

 

Of course, countless bands continue to uphold this pastoral tradition today. Bluegrass music is booming in the 2010’s, with bluegrass-centric festivals popping up, and bluegrass bands performing at major US festivals (like the Infamous Stringdusters at Bonnaroo). So grab that fiddle and get dancing!

-Written by Rick “The Jamfather” and Dave Melamed