Barbara, I get so excited when you say Arnold Schultz. <g>

I think Schultz was at least as important an influence on Monroe as was his uncle, Pendleton Vandiver. A great deal of what is in bluegrass music is clearly African-American in origin and Monroe himself said he considered himself primarily a blues singer.

Although never recorded, Arnold Schultz has had more influence on American music than most people whose recordings we still have. Not only was Shultz an important influence for Monroe but he was also a key influence in the musical development of Mose Rager, Ike Everly, Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. When you consider the number of composers and musicians influenced by those gentlemen, it's no exageration to say that Schultz's impact is at least as great as, say, Robert Johnston or Jimmie Rodgers.

Maybe Schultz should be in one of the “halls of fame.”

      - Mark