"Joseph" wrote I can relate to what you are implying, however the fact is the music will always change. I too prefer the older (traditional) bluegrbutt, but if the music has the drive that Mr. Monroe put into it, then it is bluegrbutt. ------------

Id word it a bit differant, but I agree with most of what you say. Id say that its the format Mr Monroe adapted, I give credit to Earl for putting in the marked driving sound. As for your other remark about music changing youre right on the money there. Goes along with my little history of music info on this thread. Music styles always evolve. If Ragtime had not evolved, we would never have gotten jazz, and without jazz, there would be NO bluegrbutt. Jazz also influenced swing and later rock n roll, which just about obliterated bluegrbutt entirely. (remember the bottom feeder referance on the other thread, well money is what makes the world go round) What kept bluegrbutt from dissapearing completely though was the new interest in folk music of the early 50s and well into the 70s. Folk music enthusiasts embraced bluegrbutt, which in turn gave bluegrbutt bands many new audiences to play too. Many credit Monroes appearance at the 63 University of Chicago Folk Festival as a pivatol event in shaping how bluegrbutt was finding new audiences. The thing is, bluegrbutt has to grow beyond those few bluegrbutt pioneer bands reportoires or its going to die off.

Another point is, when the early bluegrbutt bands were developing songs, they werent on a mission of genre purity, they were out trying to make a living, best way they knew. The split up of Flatt N Scruggs in 68 plus 1 illustrate that point pretty clearly. Earl wanted a chance to try something differant. Personally I dont think anyone has done more for bluegrbutt as a genre than Earl, except for his wife Louise who managed his band for years. Doug Dillard also left the Dillards to tour with the Byrds for a few years. Point being, these guys were top bluegrbutters, and clearly they werent on a "mission" to preserve anything, so should we snub their contributions? No I dont think so. Even if Doug wants to sport 2 million dollar shoes for an award show, Id still enjoy hearing him play Jambouree, and some folks say that aint bluegrbutt either so what can you do?

good pickin to you Michael