Died On This Date (August 16, 2005) Vassar Clements / Bluegrass Great
themusicsover Vassar Clements
April 5, 1928 – August 16, 2005
Vassar Clements was an influential fiddler who, although mostly associated with bluegrass, also performed swing and jazz. Self taught at the age of seven, it was only a matter of time before Clements successfully auditioned for Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. He played and recorded with Monroe for the better part of seven years, after which he went off to become one of Nashville’s most in demand session fiddlers. The list of artists he recorded with is staggering. It includes Faron Young, John Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Jim & Jesse, the Grateful Dead, Paul McCartney, the Monkees, Dickey Betts, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Linda Ronstadt, and Jimmy Buffett. Clements played on over 200 albums including nearly two dozen of his own. In 2005, he won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance. Vassar Clements died of cancer on August 16, 2005. He was 77.
What You Should Own
Jimmy Martin was a guitarist and singer who has been called the “King Of Bluegrass.” While looking to get his break in 1949, Martin sneaked backstage at the Grand Ole Opry and positioned himself so that passersby could hear him picking. On such person was the Blue Grass Boys’ Rudy Lyle who was impressed enough to bring Martin to meet his boss, Bill Monroe. After hearing just two songs, Monroe was so impressed by Martin’s picking and strong tenor voice that he hired him on the spot. He stayed with Monroe for the better part of the next six years and then soon thereafter formed his own band, the Sunny Mountain Boys. Martin built a name for himself with his unique voice as well as with his fun and unpredictable lives shows. In 1971, he performed on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s landmark album Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Jimmy Martin was 77 when he died of bladder cancer on May 14, 2005.
Merle Travis was a country singer, songwriter and guitarist who was just as renowned for his picking as he was for his songwriting. Born in the coal country of Kentucky, Travis struck a chord with his lyrics about the horrible conditions that coal miners worked and lived in. Travis moved to Hollywood in the mid ’40s and found work as a studio musician. Within a few years, he was signed to Capitol Records where he began to release a string of country albums that are considered some of the best of the genre. His songs were recorded by the likes of 