It’s difficult to fathom the depth of Bill Monroe’s 60 years of influence on contemporary music. The fact that a second anthology, covering 1950 through 1981, has been released provides a hint. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs had already left his band, but those that followed are a veritable who’s who that includes Vassar Clements, Sonny Osborne, Del McCoury and Peter Rowan. This two-disc set includes some of his classics such as “New Mule Skinner Blues,” “Uncle Pen” and the haunting, instrumental “My Last Days on Earth.” But the breadth of Monroe’s genius and the versatility of bluegrass are also on display through renditions of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Die” and gospel-tinged “I Saw the Light,” along with folk songs such as “The Long Black Veil” and “Devil’s Dream.” The liner notes provide a modest overview of Monroe’s career, from why he first picked up the mandolin to his autocratic rule of his band. Also related are his squabbles with band members, conflicts that resulted in a steady turnover of musicians but insured his legacy would live through them long after he was gone.
This article appears in May 21-27, 2003.