Interview with Earl Scruggs, March 14, 2004

Project: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project

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Interview Summary

This interview with Bluegrass music icon Earl Scruggs begins with a discussion of his childhood in Flint Hills (N.C.). Scruggs talks about his family members' musical abilities, and learning his famous "three-finger roll" style of banjo playing as a child. He talks about playing radio stations, his early career as a professional musician, and his work with artists like Boss John Miller, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, and Lester Flatt (Flatt & Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys), among others. Next, Scruggs talks about recording his seminal song, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," as well as other songs such as "Earl's Breakdown" and "Foggy Mountain Chimes." Next, Scruggs discusses the band he formed with his sons, The Earl Scruggs Revue and talks about recording several albums with a variety of music icons, including Mother Maybelle Carter and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, among others.

Interview Accession

2017oh189_ibmm013

Interviewee Name

Earl Scruggs

Interviewer Name

Eddie Stubbs

Interview Date

2004-03-14

Interview Rights

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been licensed by the International Bluegrass Music Museum as the exclusive archival repository for this collection. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, belong to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.?Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.

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Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been licensed by the International Bluegrass Music Museum as the exclusive archival repository for this collection. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, belong to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.?Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.

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Scruggs, Earl Interview by Eddie Stubbs. 14 Mar. 2004. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Scruggs, E. (2004, March 14). Interview by E. Stubbs. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

Scruggs, Earl, interview by Eddie Stubbs. March 14, 2004, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7b2r3nzp8j