Bill Monroe

William Smith Monroe (; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter, who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the "Father of Bluegrass".

The genre takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, who named their group for the bluegrass of Monroe's home state of Kentucky. He described the genre as "Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound."

Birth and Death Data: Born September 13, 1911 (Rosine), Died September 9, 1996 (Springfield)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: mandolin, vocalist, leader, composer, lyricist, harmony vocal, Musical group, songwriter, yodeling, arranger, guitar, lead vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 10903 11/25/1959 Thinking about you Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 10904 11/25/1959 Come go with me Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11333 11/30/1960 Sold down the river Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11334 11/30/1960 Linda Lou Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11335 11/30/1960 You live in a world all your own Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11336 11/30/1960 Little Joe Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11341 12/1/1960 Put my rubber doll away Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11342 12/1/1960 Seven year blues Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11343 12/1/1960 Time changes everything Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11344 12/1/1960 Lonesome road blues Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11345 12/3/1960 Big river Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11346 12/3/1960 Flowers of love Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11347 12/3/1960 It's mighty dark to travel Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11348 12/3/1960 Blue grass Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11803 11/9/1961 Little Maggie Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11804 11/9/1961 I'm going back to Old Kentucky Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11805 11/9/1961 Toy heart Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11806 11/10/1961 Shady grove-1 Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11807 11/10/1961 Nine pound hammer Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11808 11/10/1961 Live and let live Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11819 12/1/1961 Danny boy Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11820 12/1/1961 Cotton fields-1 Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11821 12/1/1961 Journey's end Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11822 12/4/1961 John Hardy Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
Decca NA 11823 12/4/1961 Bugle call rag Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys instrumentalist, mandolin, leader  
(Results 226-250 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Monroe, Bill," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103708.

Monroe, Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103708.

"Monroe, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103708

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