Earl Scruggs was born and grew up near Shelby, North Carolina in Cleveland County. Located in the Piedmont section of the state, it is an area known for its strongholds of banjo enthusiasm.
He got his start playing with Bill Monroe’s band in the 1940s, and then teamed up with guitarist Lester Flatt (fronting The Foggy Mountain Boys). The two penned and recorded the tune “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” which was used on the Bonnie and Clyde film soundtrack and was one of the first crossover hits of the genre. They also recorded “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” the theme song for the sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.
When Scruggs auditioned for Flatt and Monroe, Flatt was thrilled. It was so different! I had never heard that kind of banjo picking.
Earl Scruggs is to the five-string banjo what Paganini was to the violin.
1958:
Earl Scruggs & Lester Flatt – Ground Speed
1962:
Earl Scruggs & Lester Flatt – Sally Anne
Current:
Earl Scruggs & Dwight Yoakam – Borrowed Love
Earl Scruggs & Friends – Foggy Mountain Breakdown on CMT – More
Earl Scruggs & Friends – Foggy Mountain Breakdown on The Late Show
Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss – Foggy Mountain Top
It’s the hats! It’s GOTTA be the hats!