Earl Scruggs, the quiet achieving master of the banjo, who, with his complex three finguring playing style influenced every banjo player that came after him, died of natural causes on Wednesday morning aged 88.
Known for his adaptability Scruggs was able to cross genre divides easily and with grace. He was as happy playing Blugegrass as he was when jamming with the likes of Elton John, Ravi Shankur or The Byrds.
Scruggs began playing banjo at the age of 14, experimenting with a syncopated three finger style that he may not have necessarily invented but cemented as a key component of Bluegrass music. In 1945 Scruggs joined Bill Monroes Blue Grass Boys and left three years later to pursue his own band with Lester Flatt, The Foggy Mountain Boys or as they were commonly known Flatt and Scruggs. Together they recorded the theme song for the Beverly Hillbillies with singer Jerry Scoggins. The song " The Ballad of Jed Clampett became a massive country hit and was played at the beginning and end of each episode of the Beverly Hillbillies.
Although not overtly political in his commentary Scruggs defied popular southern convention in joining in the anti-Vietnam movement in the late 60's. He gave his support to the cause in 1969 in Washington D.C at the Moratorium to End The War in Vietnam. In the open air Scruggs performed his Grammy Award winning song "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". Afterwards he commented " I'm disgusted and in sorrow about the boys we've lost over there. And if I could see a good reason (for it) to continue, I wouldn't be here today."
With a career spanning more than six decades Scruggs has been honoured many times, winning a Grammy Award along with Flatts for the intrumental " Foggy Mountain Boys" in 1969. The pair were alos inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in 1985. Following in 1989 Scruggs was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship and was the first inductee ever into the Internationl Bluegrass Music Hall of Honour in 1991. The accolades and awards continued well in the 2000's with Scruggs picking up another Grammy in 2002 for the 2001 recording of " Foggy Mountain Boys" as well as a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame and 2008 was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
Earl Scruggs was and is a legend who will not ever be forgotten.
Here is Earl Scruggs and friends playing with a Foggy Mountain breakdown. Absolutely fantastic.
