I think of Earl Scruggs, the Master from Flint Hill, one of the most electrifying and innovative musicians in history. Scruggs may not have invented bluegrass, but it was his unique 3-finger style on the five string banjo that helped to define the genre better than almost anyone else.
As Steve Martin said, "Before him, no one had ever played the banjo like he did. After him, everyone played the banjo like he did, or at least tried."
After joining Bill Monroe's band in 1945, he influenced everyone who has ever picked up the instrument. Scruggs was one of the giants of American music, on par with anybody of the 20th century. His importance can simply not be overstated.
I saw Scruggs several times in his later years at festivals, and once in a hippie band with his sons (The Earl Scruggs Revue) at Bloomsburg State College in the 70s. That night he was mostly content to stay in the background, accompanying his sons and playing Dylan covers and other country rock.
But a few times, he stepped to the forefront and ripped some thrilling and unforgettable runs, so effortlessly that you might have thought he invented that style of playing the banjo.
And you know what? He did.
Earl Scruggs died today; he leaves a legacy of being the best damn banjo player who ever lived.
Period.
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