I personally don't think the ambitious scholar will find a "trail of breadcrumbs" or some sort of apostolic succession leading from the music of Scotland and Ireland directly to bluegrass. Bluegrass probably needs a James Michner novel starting with the origin of each individual influence moving toward an analysis of the Apalachian region, the lure of jobs in the industiral north and the development and influence of the commercial country music industry. I don't think a credible case can be made for viewing bluegrass as simply a natural extension of Celtic music.

      - Mark