Flatt and Scruggs

Flatt and Scruggs were an American bluegrass duo formed in 1948. The duo was formed by singer-guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs, both of whom had been members of Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys, from 1945 to 1948. Flatt and Scruggs are viewed by music historians as one of the premier bluegrass groups in the history of the genre.Rosenberg, Neil V. (1998), "Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys", The Encyclopedia of Country Music, Oxford University Press, pp. 173-4

Flatt and Scruggs recorded and performed together until 1969. Their backing band, the Foggy Mountain Boys, included fiddle player Paul Warren, a master player in both the old-time and bluegrass fiddling styles whose technique reflected all qualitative aspects of "the bluegrass breakdown" and fast bowing style; dobro player Burkett Howard "Uncle Josh" Graves, an innovator of the advanced playing style of the instrument now used in the genre; stand-up bass player English P. "Cousin Jake" Tullock; and mandolinist John "Curly" Seckler.

History Lester Flatt worked for Monroe at the time Earl Scruggs was considered for Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys, in 1945. The two left that band early in 1948, and within a few months had formed the Foggy Mountain Boys. Flatt's rhythm-guitar style and vocals and Scruggs' banjo style gave them a distinctive sound that won them many fans. In 1955, they became members of the Grand Ole Opry.Browne, Ray B. and Browne, Pat, "Flatt and Scruggs", The Guide to United States Popular Culture, Popular Press, 2001, p. 284

Scruggs, who had always shown progressive tendencies, experimented on duets with saxophonist King Curtis and added songs by the likes of Bob Dylan to the group's repertoire. Flatt, a traditionalist, did not like these changes, and the group broke up in 1969. Following the breakup, Lester Flatt founded the Nashville Grass and Scruggs led the Earl Scruggs Revue. Flatt died of heart failure in Nashville, Tennessee, May 11, 1979 at the age of 64.Rockwell, John (May 12, 1979). "Lester Flatt, Singer and Guitarist in Duo With Earl Scruggs, Dies". The New York Times. p. 26. Scruggs died from natural causes on March 28, 2012 in a Nashville hospital.

Flatt and Scruggs were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985. In 2003, they ranked No. 24 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music, one of only four non-solo artists to make the list (Eagles, Alabama, and Brooks & Dunn are the others).

Members

Lester Flatt (guitar) Earl Scruggs (banjo, guitar) Paul Warren (fiddle) John Ray "Curly" Seckler (mandolin, guitar) Josh Graves (Dobro, bass) English P. “Cousin Jake” Tullock (bass) Chubby Wise (fiddle) Jim Shumate (fiddle) Benny Martin (fiddle) Benny Sims (fiddle) Howdy Forrester (fiddle) Art Wooten (fiddle) Howard Watts "Cedric Rainwater" (bass) Charles Johnson a.k.a. "Little Jody Rainwater" (bass) Frank "Hylo" Brown (bass, guitar) Charles “Little Darlin’” Elza (bass) Joe Stuart (bass) Ernie Newton (bass) Bob Moore (bass) Everett Lilly (mandolin) Jim Eanes (guitar) Mac Wiseman (guitar) Billy E. Powers (guitar) Johnny Johnson (guitar) Earl Taylor (mandolin and harmonica) Grover C. Deskins Jr. (harmonica)

Notable songs "Foggy Mountain Breakdown": an instrumental originally released in 1949 and used in many rural car chase movie sequences, notably in Bonnie and Clyde. It has won two Grammy Awards. "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" (listen): used as the theme for the Beverly Hillbillies television series. The song reached No. 42 on the record charts during the series' debut season of 1962. The song hit No. 1 on the country charts in January 1963, and was the only number-one hit song of their career. The song is one of only five TV theme songs to ever reach No. 1 on the country charts. Martha White jingle (still used in advertising today). "Petticoat Junction": theme from the TV series.

Discography Albums Year Album Chart Positions Label US Country US 1957 Foggy Mountain Jamboree — — Columbia 1958 Country Music — — Mercury 1959 Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs — — 1960 Songs of Glory — — Columbia 1961 Foggy Mountain Banjo — — Songs of the Famous Carter Family — — 1962 Folk Songs of Our Land — — 1963 Hard Travelin' (The Ballad of Jed Clampett) — 115 The Original Sound — — Mercury Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall! 7 134 Columbia 1964 Recorded Live at Vanderbilt University 10 — The Fabulous Sound of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs 2 — 1965 The Versatile Flatt & Scruggs — — Great Original Recordings — — 1966 Town and Country 15 — When the Saints Go Marching In — — Flatt & Scruggs' Greatest Hits 34 — Sacred Songs — — 1967 Strictly Instrumental (w/ Doc Watson) — — Hear the Whistles Blow 37 — 1968 Changin' Times featuring Foggy Mountain Breakdown 7 194 Songs to Cherish — — Original Theme From Bonnie & Clyde 26 161 The Story of Bonnie & Clyde 23 187 Nashville Airplane 35 — 1970 Final Fling 45 — Breaking Out 35 — 20 All-Time Great Recordings — —

Hit singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US Country US CAN Country CAN 1949 "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" 9 — — — rowspan="7" 1952 "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered" 9 — — — 1959 "Cabin in the Hills" 9 — — — 1960 "Crying My Heart Out Over You" 21 — — — 1961 "Polka on a Banjo" 12 — — — "Go Home" 10 — — — 1962 "Just Ain't" 16 — — — "The Legend of the Johnson Boys" 27 — — — Folk Songs of Our Land "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" 1 44 — — Hard Travelin' (The Ballad of Jed Clampett) 1963 "Pearl Pearl Pearl" 8 113 — — rowspan="2" "New York Town" 26 — — — 1964 "You Are My Flower" 12 — — — Recorded Live at Vanderbilt University "My Sara Jane" 40 — — — rowspan="3" "Petticoat Junction" 14 — — — "Workin' It Out" 21 — — — 1965 "I Still Miss Someone" 43 — — — The Versatile Flatt & Scruggs 1967 "Nashville Cats" 54 — — — rowspan="2" "California Up Tight Band" 20 — — — 1968 "Down in the Flood" 45 — 15 — Changing Times featuringFoggy Mountain Breakdown "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" 58 55 — 90 "Like a Rolling Stone" 58 125 — — Nashville Airplane

References