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 1-25 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-99193 10-in. 2/17/1936 My long journey home Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99194 10-in. 2/17/1936 What is home without love Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99195 10-in. 2/17/1936 What would you give in exchange? Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99196 10-in. 2/17/1936 Little red shoes Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99197 10-in. 2/17/1936 Nine pound hammer is too heavy Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99198 10-in. 2/17/1936 On some foggy mountain top Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar, mandolin, and yodeling vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99199 10-in. 2/17/1936 Drifting too far from the shore Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar, mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99200 10-in. 2/17/1936 In my dear Southern home Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar, mandolin, and yodeling vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99201 10-in. 2/17/1936 New River train Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-99202 10-in. 2/17/1936 This world is not my home Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102739 10-in. 6/21/1936 Watermelon hangin' on that vine Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102740 10-in. 6/21/1936 On the banks of the Ohio Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102741 10-in. 6/21/1936 Do you call that religion? Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102742 10-in. 6/21/1936 God holds the future in his hands Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102743 10-in. 6/21/1936 You've got to walk that lonesome valley Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102744 10-in. 6/21/1936 Six months ain't long Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102745 10-in. 6/21/1936 Just a song of old Kentucky Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102746 10-in. 6/21/1936 Don't forget me Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102747 10-in. 6/21/1936 I'm going Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-102748 10-in. 6/21/1936 Darling Corey Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin vocalist, instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-02538 10-in. 10/12/1936 My Saviour's train Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Victor BS-02539 10-in. 10/12/1936 I am thinking tonight of the old folks Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Victor BS-02540 10-in. 10/12/1936 Dreamed I searched heaven for you Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Victor BS-02541 10-in. 10/12/1936 The old crossroad Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
Victor BS-02542 10-in. 10/12/1936 The forgotten soldier boy Monroe Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin instrumentalist, mandolin, vocalist  
(Results 1-25 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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