(August 2020) Episode 279 is BILL MONROE. The Father of Bluegrass, so much so that the entire genre is named after his band. He was also very stern in enforcing orthodoxy of style and form in the genre he created, a dynamic that persists to this day. It’s interesting to listen to their 1940s singles as they show the transition from standard country to this distinctive sound. My favorite songs are the machine-gun fire banjo-led jams.
Favorite album: Master of Bluegrass
Favorite song: Bluegrass Breakdown
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 