From: v_abadie@cox.net   
      
   Hey Grover,   
   Thanks for the history! There may be some newcomers who weren't familiar   
   with the origin of the term, and I think this kind of forum is great   
   place to learn. While I agree with Monroe's set up and your description   
   of the "quintessential"   
   Bluegrass band, I still have to say that the evolution of the style has   
   made it possible to have good bluegrass without fiddle or mandolin. I   
   prefer it with those instruments, but I've heard some good guitar, bass,   
   banjo bands that pulled off the traditional tunes just fine.   
   Vince   
      
   Grover C. McCoury III wrote:   
      
   >"Vince"  wrote in message   
   >news:vwQOf.179223$WH.52572@dukeread01...   
   >   
   >   
   >>OK...here's a question to generate some genuine BLUEGRASS DISCUSSION. What   
   >>instruments do you consider to be essential to a bluegrass band?   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
   >FYI: Some history is as follows:   
   >   
   >The Monroe Brothers were one of the most popular duet teams of the 1920s and   
   >into the 1930s. Charlie played the guitar, Bill played the mandolin and they   
   >sang duets in harmony. When the brothers split up as a team in 1938, both   
   >went on to form their own bands. Since Bill was a native of Kentucky, the   
   >Bluegrass State, he decided to call his band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass   
   >Boys.   
   >   
   >  Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry   
   >in 1939. Bill's new band was different from other traditional country music   
   >bands of the time because of its hard driving and powerful sound, utilizing   
   >traditional acoustic instruments and featuring highly distinctive vocal   
   >harmonies. After *experimenting* with various instrumental combinations   
   >(including accordion), Bill settled on mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar and   
   >bass as the format for his band.   
   >   
   >  While many fans of Bluegrass music date the genre back to 1939, when   
   >Monroe formed his first Blue Grass Boys band, most believe that the classic   
   >Bluegrass sound came of age in 1946, shortly after Earl Scruggs joined the   
   >band.  Equally influential in the classic 1946 line-up of the Blue Grass   
   >Boys were Lester Flatt on guitar and lead vocals, Chubby Wise on fiddle and   
   >Howard Watts on the doghouse bass.   
   >   
   > Initially, Monroe's music was simply called "country", "mountain" or   
   >"hillbilly" music. By the 1950s, people began referring to this style of   
   >music as "bluegrass" music primarily associating the music with Bill's band   
   >name/home state. Therefore, the term bluegrass was not really used until   
   >well after the genre was defined by Monroe.   
   >   
   >Having reflected back on the history of the genre, I think *most* Bluegrass   
   >aficionados would agree that the acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, 5-string   
   >banjo and bass fiddle comprise a quintessential Bluegrass band. Having   
   >played in various Bluegrass bands, I would suggest at a *minimum* you need a   
   >flat-top, fiddle and mandolin.   
   >   
   >Yet another $.02 worth from a Bluegrass music fan since in the womb...   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
      
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