Research Catalog

Title

Earl Scruggs and Foggy mountain breakdown : the making of an American classic / Thomas Goldsmith.

Author

Goldsmith, Thomas, 1952-

Publication

• Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2019]
• ©2019

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

x, 177 pages : illustrations; 23 cm.

Summary

"Less than three minutes long and involving no lyrics, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is a banjo-led song that changed the face of American music. Composed and recorded by Earl Scruggs in 1949, the song went on to transform and modernize folk culture of the early 20th century, its effects extending far beyond bluegrass. The captivating sound of the piece helped rejuvenate the banjo, an instrument that had been vanishing from the mainstream of American music; its unforgettable twang and cadence ushered the banjo and backwoods into American popular culture by providing the soundtrack for "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Bonnie and Clyde"; its close relationship to "Blue Grass Breakdown," a song composed by Scruggs' one-time bandleader Bill Monroe, illustrates the fungible nature of intellectual property in the early days of country music; and the song's advanced compositional techniques and technical difficulty helped distinguish Scruggs as one of a small handful of principals of acoustic music. Relying on primary sources, including interviews with Scruggs and his wife and manager, Louise, as well as with Curly Seckler, the only surviving musician from the 1949 recording, this project examines the story surrounding "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." Along the way, Goldsmith reveals much about Scruggs's career and the evolution of his influential style. No such examination about Scruggs or his famous song exists, so this project is positioned to make a strong contribution to the history of bluegrass"--

Series Statement

Music in American life

Uniform Title

Music in American life.

Subject

• Scruggs, Earl
• Banjoists > United States > Biography
• Bluegrass musicians > United States > Biography
• Banjoists
• Bluegrass musicians
• United States

Genre/Form

Biographies.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages [159]-167) and index.

Contents

Out to follow Scruggs's path -- "I grew up around a banjo" -- The Piedmont's rich musical soil -- Early professional days -- Joining Bill Monroe -- Working as a blue grass boy -- Flatt and Scruggs build a career -- Recording "Foggy mountain breakdown" -- "Like a jackhammer" -- How the tune works -- The number-one banjo player -- The Beverly hillbillies welcomes the banjo -- Riding with Bonnie and Clyde -- Scruggs without Flatt : a period of transition -- Scruggs's banjo gains a cult following -- Reaping the harvest.

Call Number

JNE 20-86

ISBN

• 9780252042966
• 0252042964
• 9780252084782
• 0252084780

LCCN

2019025460

OCLC

1096531071

Author

Goldsmith, Thomas, 1952- author.

Title

Earl Scruggs and Foggy mountain breakdown : the making of an American classic / Thomas Goldsmith.

Publisher

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2019]

Copyright Date

©2019

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Music in American life

Music in American life.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages [159]-167) and index.

Other Form:

Online version: Goldsmith, Thomas, 1952- Earl Scruggs and Foggy mountain breakdown Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 2019. 9780252051821 (DLC) 2019025461

Research Call Number

JNE 20-86