Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs Brought Banjo Style to the World
Episode Description
The granddaddy of the bluegrass banjo in the Tar Heel State is Earl Scruggs, a native of Cleveland County. Earl perfected the syncopated style of three-finger banjo so masterfully, the technique is now called “Scruggs Style” and is emulated by bluegrass banjo players all over the world. In 1948, Earl and Lester Flatt formed the Foggy Mountain Boys and gained widespread fame with their “Ballad of Jed Clampett” featured on the popular TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
The Podcast
The “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina” podcast highlights bluegrass and old-time music stories, performers, and traditions across the mountain and foothills counties of Western North Carolina. Hosted by Laura Boosinger and produced by Kim Clark of WNCW-FM, the podcast is a joint effort of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the North Carolina Arts Council, WNCW-FM, and the American roots music journal No Depression.
