Listened to the NPR piece this morning on the way to work, and just yesterday (day before?) listened to the NPR tribute to Bill Monroe-a somewhat delayed tribute on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The members of this community who have much interest in Appalachian old-time string bands (and even old-time bluegrass) is fairly limited, but those of us who are interested know how important these folks were in keeping Appalachian and southern traditional music alive long enough for the "folk revival" to discover them. Many folkies have also been very slow to appreciate what an American melting pot this music represents. Arising mainly in the southland, drawing from African and Anglo traditions for the most part, this music is as American in origin as jazz or the blues.