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The Scots-Irish traditional music of the
southern Appalachian Mountains has evolved into a newer form
that, since the early 1950s, has been known as bluegrass music.
Bluegrass uses traditional mountain dance-group instrumentation,
usually featuring unamplified mandolin, banjo, and fiddle,
but as developed by Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys it
also has a hard, fast drive and a high-pitched, emotional
singing style.
Monroe, a mandolin player born in Rosine, Ky., in 1911, and
the Bluegrass Boys began to play regularly on the "Grand
Ole Opry" radio program in Nashville, Tenn., in 1939.
The band has included such seminal musicians as banjoist Earl
SCRUGGS, of the famous duo FLATT AND SCRUGGS.
Although as a distinct style bluegrass is relatively new--compared,
for example, with the more traditional aspects of COUNTRY
AND WESTERN MUSIC--it has come to symbolize an older, more
rural America and has attracted many young urban musicians,
some of whom use its hard-driving instrumental techniques
as a backing in soft rock and country rock. Notable among
these are such eclectic pop-music groups as Seldom Scene and
New Grass Revival.
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