A Brief History of Bluegrass
Bluegrass music originated with the first English, Irish, and Scottish immigrants in America. As these settlers moved into the Appalachian region of the United States—which extends from the southernmost part of New York to the northern halves of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia—they brought the music of their homelands with them. The Irish jigs and reels, and English and Scottish ballads, were infused with African American blues and ragtime. The fiddle was joined by the African-born banjo and the lyrics developed to reflect the rigors of working life in that region.
The recognition of bluegrass as a genre separate from country music did not come until the 1940s, and many of the musicians credited with the creation of bluegrass music did not come from Appalachia at all. The term actually originated with Bill Monroe—often called the “Father of Bluegrass”—whose band was named the “Blue Grass Boys” after the grazing grass that grew throughout his home state of Kentucky. Monroe took the old-time music of Appalachia, which often featured only the fiddle and banjo, and added mandolin, guitar, and standing bass.
As some of the nation’s most famous folk festivals were founded, so were the first bluegrass festivals, where artists like Monroe and Scruggs were joined by a new generation of bluegrass musicians. The genre stayed alive by incorporating new sounds and recording equipment into traditional ones—by reaching out to new audiences and finding its way into popular movie soundtracks. Famous country music artists recorded bluegrass albums, and bluegrass and folk festivals continued to remain popular and invite new acts. Bluegrass is now not only recognized as its own genre, but one that can sustain itself and continue to reach new audiences year after year.
Christine Ray
2015 Festival Manager