In this session, Bill is joined live by Thomas Goldsmith, the author of Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: The Making of an American Icon. Bill explores with Thomas his research for the book, his relationship with Earl and the Scruggs family, Earl’s early life and influences, and much more.

After his interview with Thomas Goldsmith, Bill turns to Earl’s banjo-and-fiddle duet accompaniment style, analyzing “Grey Eagle” from a 1950s radio broadcast with fiddler Benny Martin and “Fiddle and Banjo (Stoney Point)” with fiddler Paul Warren, from Flatt and Scruggs’s December 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Bill also takes a look at “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” (also known as “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”) from Flatt and Scruggs’s 1963 Vanderbilt University concert in Nashville, discussing Earl’s solo and analyzing the different backup approaches Earl uses throughout the song.

Listening Assignment:

“Grey Eagle,” WSM Martha White radio show, 1953 

“Fiddle & Banjo (Stoney Point),” December 8, 1962 live at Carnegie Hall

“Across The Blue Ridge Mountains,” July  1, 1964 live at Vanderbilt University

Listen to how Earl’s backup changes throughout the song in relationship to the other musicians and to what’s happening in the performance.