Musician Earl Scruggs has died

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.cmt.com/news/country-musi...t-age-88.jhtml

Earl Scruggs, the most influential banjo player in the history of bluegrass music, died Wednesday morning (March 2 at a Nashville hospital at age 88.

Through the medium of television in the 1960s, Scruggs and his musical collaborator, Lester Flatt, introduced the banjo -- and bluegrass music -- into millions of households each week through their performance of the theme for The Beverly Hillbillies television series. It is reported that their appearances on the popular program resulted in skyrocketing banjo sales in the U.S.

More than six decades after Scruggs picked his first notes with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, bluegrass fans and scholars are still debating the origins of the music. Some say it begins and ends with Monroe, while countless others cite Scruggs' contributions (along with those of Flatt, Cedric Rainwater and Chubby Wise) as the genre's defining moment.

Songwriter and musician John Hartford once stated that "bluegrass was invented on the stage of the Ryman," where Scruggs made his debut with Monroe. Even Opry founder George D. Hay was prompted to single out Scruggs and his "fancy banjo" when introducing Monroe to Opry audiences in the late 1940s.

Scruggs' contributions to the music cannot be overstated. Few banjo players before or since have had such impact on the instrument as has Scruggs. His distinctive three-finger approach to the instrument heralded a new era in country music.

Scruggs' wife and longtime manager Louise Scruggs died in 2006 following a lengthy illness. He is survived by two sons, Gary and Randy, both of Nashville. He is preceded in death by a son, Steve, who died in 1992.

Man.. I LOOOVE Foggy Mountain Breakdown!! RIP Earl!!