review of bio of Bill Monroe

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 12:08 PM

Oh well, there are always the stories about Bill's very active sex life. UGHHHH! Now that's a direction I don't wanna go!

Sometimes it's very frustrating to me to read accounts of the lives of important musicians, when I know that the author knows (or cares) little about that form of music. Right off the bat they often betray their ignorance with silly little inaccurate details. Biographies of Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot, Ronnie Hawkins, and Hank Williams are full of them. Joe Klein's "Woody" book was better, but his lack of accuracy about Woody's musical skills and choice of instruments still bothered me.

"MetaNurd"

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 10:25 AM

I really know nothing about this, but again citing Dawidoff, he says that the reason for the feud was that Monroe believed that Flatt and Scruggs had left the band simultaneously with the idea of starting a new band. Scruggs adamantly says that it was a coincidence that the two of them left within a week of each other -- he was seriously considering going back into millwork -- and then got back together again. (Others have treated this story somewhat more sceptically). Flatt is reported to have told someone else that they were going to get together. As for Monroe: "he used his influence to keep F&S off the Opry stage for several yeas, and even into the 1970's, whenever he talked about what he clearly considered this betrayal, Monroe seethed."

I wonder how the story (Rick found this in a Bluegrass history book) about Monroe inviting them to play with him one night but they said they didn't have their instruments (but Monroe saw them in the back of their car) fits into this Rashomon-like tale. It sounds sort of fake to me. Doesn't fit into the character profiles!!!

Boy, nerddom or what?
I don't even speak Klingon.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: TheOldMole
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 02:11 AM

Don't forget that country music goes up and down. In the early 80s, after the execrable Urban Cowboy years, country was pronounced dead, rotten. That was just before Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, the O'Kanes, Lyle Lovett, the early Clint Black, the Desert Rose Band, etc. The late 80s and early 90s were a Golden Era of country.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: TheOldMole
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 02:08 AM

Jon Pareles (the Times review) is an idiot who knows nothing about music.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 12:53 AM

The real story is that there appear to be conflicting stories. Carleton Haney says they were cordial up to the time that Flatt and Scruggs "dissed" Bill at the Opry in 1952. Curley Seckler (who also should know) claims it was "over twenty years". On reflection I think you're right Peter. Damn, I know better than to get into these "how long did the grudge last" debates with you.

Rick

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 05:22 PM

Pulling down Dawidoff from the shelf: -- According to Dawidoff (first sentences from his quoted interview with Scruggs), Scruggs said '"He went several years without speaking to us. That all went away. I consider Bill as my friend now." It was precisely 21 years before they had a conversation.' (p.124)

If this is a false story, it certainly is persistent.

What is the real story?
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Midchuck
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:41 PM

Mr. Monroe.

Please.

Peter.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:12 PM

Thanks T. Looks interesting. I wonder how accurate it really is. Just reading the review it looks like the author has reinforced the story of Monroe not talking to Flatt and Scruggs (esp. Louise S.) for over twenty years. Most of the old timers have long known that to be untrue.

Doesn't matter a whit though. Our job I guess is to devour as much info from the many articles and books on these pioneers and make up our own minds. Tony Trischka told me a great Monroe "sex" story that I won't repeat here...but it was hilarious!

Guess I gotta buy the book!

Rick

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Mark Clark
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:59 PM

B&N has a nice review of Dawidoff's book. I heartily agree with Athitakis (the reviewer) about the state of country music.

Looks as though I've got another book to buy.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:28 PM

In the Country of Country by Nicholas Dawidoff (1997), Vintage, still seems to me to be the best of the short bio books -- it nicely intermingles his discussion of Emmylou Harris with the one on Bill Monroe (he is, like everyone else, smitten with her). It is obvious that Monroe was a ferocious son of a bitch.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:15 PM

Well here's another one for Santa.........Thanks T.

Spaw

Subject: RE: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: Mark Clark
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:59 PM

Yup, looks like I'll need to go to B&N through Mudcat and order a copy. I knew this had been published but hadn't seen a review. Folks interested in this book may also like to (re)read Bossmen by James Rooney. It details the lives of Bill Monroe and Muddy Waters. Very interesting.

Thanks, Okiemockbird.

      - Mark

Subject: review of bio of Bill Monroe
From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:52 AM

Here is a review of a biography of Bill Monroe which may interest some mudcatters.

T.