If you don't know of the man you probably ought to. You probably have heard some of his work whether you knew it or not. Too twangy for Nashville today but back a while ago he was front and center with his friend Lester hawking Martha White and Pet Milk at the Grand Old Opry. Unlike the present day when the Dixie Chicks are vilified for justifiable embarrassment for having to share Texas with W Earl was playing Foggy Mountain Breakdown at an anti-war protest in 1969.
From itzik shpitzik in comments. Obit from the Tennessean.
I think the people in the South is just as concerned as the people that's walkin' the streets here today . . . . I'm sincere about bringing our boys back home. I'm disgusted and in sorrow about the boys we've lost over there. And if I could see a good reason to continue, I wouldn't be here today.
Earl Scruggs, October 15 1969
If all you ever knew from Flatt and Scruggs was "
The Ballad of Jed Clampett" I guess that would be ok. I am pretty sure it helped album sales and drew some crowds. But, there is so much more to the band of Flatt and Scruggs and the man himself than the Beverly Hillbillies. I would like to think that their recording of "
"Old Salty Dog Blues"as an early crossover hit. Before anybody ever thought of the term and when the idea was likely considered reprobate or at the very least questionable that a white bluegrass band would play an old black folksy blues tune about a salty dog of a man.
Hollywood gave him a star in 2003. The same year CMT put him and Scruggs at #24 on their list of 40 Country Men. I think Nashville would really just as soon forget that Bluegrass is a big part of why country music exists today. They made Dwight Yoakum change the title of his original album. It was supposed to mention Hillbilly music on the cover. You were supposed to know it was hillbilly music. Nashville didn't think so. Etc. Etc. Right. That is why Willie had to go back to Austin. That is why Waylon and Kris and..oh don't go there. Just don't. Remember the man that the movie maker said was without ego and kind. Remember one of the greatest pickers ever. Remember a man of humility and conviction. He shall be missed. We lost a great one today.
A lesson from the man. He could probably show me these moves about a thousand times and I still wouldn't get it.