Lester Flatt
Lester Raymond Flatt (June 19, 1914 – May 11, 1979) was an American singer, bluegrass guitarist, and mandolinist, best known for his collaboration with banjo picker Earl Scruggs in the duo Flatt and Scruggs. Flatt's career spanned multiple decades, breaking out as a member of Bill Monroe's band during the 1940s and including multiple solo and collaboration works exclusive of Scruggs. He first reached a mainstream audience through his performance on "The Ballad of Jed Clampett", the theme for the network television series The Beverly Hillbillies, in the early 1960s. |
Birth and Death Data: Born (Overton County (county in Tennessee, United States)), Died May 11, 1979 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1946 - 1956
Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, lead vocal, songwriter, composer, lyricist, vocalist
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | RHCO4358 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | Come back darling | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | RHCO4359 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | I'm head over heels in love | Lester Flatt ; Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | RHCO4360 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | I'm waiting to hear you call me darling | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal trio | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | RHCO4361 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | The old home town | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | RHCO4362 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | I'll stay around | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Stsring band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | RHCO4363 | 10-in. | 11/21/1950 | We can't be darlings any more | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CCO4605 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Heavy traffic ahead | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4607 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Blue moon of Kentucky | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4608 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Toy heart | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CCO4609 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Summertime is past and gone | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | Male vocal trio, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4610 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Mansions for me | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4611 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Mother's only sleeping | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4612 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Blue yodel #4 | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4613 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | Will you be loving another man | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, lead vocal, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CCO4614 | 10-in. | 9/16/1946 | How will I explain about you | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4616 | 10-in. | 9/17/1946 | Wicked path of sin | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | Male vocal quartet, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4874 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | I'm going back to old Kentucky | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4875 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | It's mighty dark to travel | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4876 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | I hear a sweet voice calling | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
| Columbia | CCO4877 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | Little cabin home on the hill | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CCO4878 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | My rose of old Kentucky | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4879 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | Blue grass breakdown | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4880 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | Sweetheart you done me wrong | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CCO4881 | 10-in. | 10/27/1947 | The old cross road (is waiting) | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Quartet | Male vocal quartet, with string band | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CCO4882 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | That home above | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Quartet | Male vocal quartet, with guitar and mandolin | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4883 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | Remember the cross | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Quartet | Male vocal quartet, with string band | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
| Columbia | CCO4884 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | Little community church | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Quartet | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4885 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | Along about daybreak | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4886 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | When you are lonely | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CCO4887 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | Molly and Tenbrooks (the race horse song) | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | String band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CCO4888 | 10-in. | 10/28/1947 | Shine hallelujah, shine | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Quartet | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO45912 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | Jimmie Brown, the newsboy | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO45913 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | Somehow tonight | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO45914 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | Don't get above your raisin' | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO45915 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | I'm workin' on a road (to glory land) | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | CO45916 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | He took your place | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO45917 | 10-in. | 5/9/1951 | I've lost you | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO47111 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | 'Tis sweet to be remembered | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal duet, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO47112 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | I'm gonna settle down | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | CO47113 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | Earl's breakdown | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO47115 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | Over the hills to the poorhouse | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal duet, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO47116 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | My darling's last goodbye | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal solo, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO47118 | 10-in. | 10/24/1951 | Brother, I'm getting ready to go | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | CO48535 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | Why did you wander? | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal duet, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO48536 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | Flint Hill special | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO48537 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | Thinking about you | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal trio, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO48538 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | If I should wander back tonight | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO48539 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | Dim lights, thick smoke (and loud, loud music) | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO48540 | 10-in. | 11/9/1952 | Dear old Dixie | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band | instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO49891 | 10-in. | 8/29/1953 | I'll go stepping too | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO49892 | 10-in. | 8/29/1953 | I'd rather be alone | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal solo, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO49893 | 10-in. | 8/29/1953 | Foggy mountain chimes | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO49894 | 10-in. | 8/29/1953 | Someone took my place with you | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO49899 | 10-in. | 8/30/1953 | Mother prays loud in her sleep | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal trio, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CO49902 | 10-in. | 8/30/1953 | Be ready for tomorrow may never come | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Male vocal quartet, with string band | vocalist, lead vocal, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | CO51593 | 10-in. | 5/19/1954 | Till the end of the world rolls around | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CO51594 | 10-in. | 5/19/1954 | You're not a drop in the bucket | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO51595 | 10-in. | 5/19/1954 | Don't this road look rough and rocky | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal trio | vocalist, lead vocal, songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO51596 | 10-in. | 5/19/1954 | Foggy Mountain special | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO52997 | 10-in. | 1/23/1955 | You can feel it in your soul | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO52998 | 10-in. | 1/23/1955 | The old fashioned preacher | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO52999 | 10-in. | 1/23/1955 | Before I met you | Lester Flatt | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal | |
| Columbia | CO53000 | 10-in. | 1/23/1955 | I'm gonna sleep with one eye open | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | CO53184 | 10-in. | 3/11/1955 | The reunion in Heaven | Carl Story | String band, with male vocal quartet | songwriter | |
| Columbia | CO54000 | 10-in. | 9/2/1955 | Randy Lynn rag | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | Banjo solo, with string band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO54001 | 10-in. | 9/2/1955 | On my mind | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO54010 | 10-in. | 9/3/1955 | Gone home | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO54011 | 10-in. | 9/3/1955 | Bubbling in my soul | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO56018 | 10-in. | 5/6/1956 | Joy bells | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal quartet | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO56019 | 10-in. | 5/6/1956 | What's good for you (should be all right for me) | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO56020 | 10-in. | 5/6/1956 | No doubt about it | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs ; Dorris Paul Warren | String band, with male vocal duet | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Columbia | CO56209 | 10-in. | 6/3/1956 | Give Mother my crown | Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs | String band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, lead vocal, instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Flatt, Lester," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/369907.
Flatt, Lester. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/369907.
"Flatt, Lester." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Discogs: Lester Flatt
RILM: Lester Flatt
IMDb: Lester Flatt
Britannica: Lester Flatt
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Flatt, Lester - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82096196
Wikidata: Lester Flatt - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1346706
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/61731754
MusicBrainz: Lester Flatt - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a9468a9a-b5ea-43b8-85c7-d86542bd2537
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/95721 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/95721
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