arby3 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:37:41

Sad news.  It's gonna take a while for it to sink in.....

Hotrodtruck - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:38:12

R.I.P. Earl. Thanks for the inspiration to pick up the banjo.

Mike

dobroman - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:39:27

God Bless Earl!! Rest In Peace.

rb4player - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:42:21

RIP Earl. You touched so many around the globe in ways that you could never imagine.

Clark - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:43:53

Rest in Peace you were the best!!!!

cabinwood - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:46:41

The Greatest.

the-fish - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:48:18

very very sad indeed. thoughts for his family.

pstroud1 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:48:37

RIP Earl,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for sharing


Paul

Kevin B - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:49:37

Thank you Earl.  May God bless his loved ones and many friends.

JMalmsteen - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:50:50

Rest in Peace Earl. We will carry your memory on here.

slammer - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:52:49

The One and Only !!! RIP Earl & Thank You so much. Slammer!!!

drivin5string - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:54:03

Edited by - drivin5string on 03/28/2012 17:54:55

CurtissWhite - Posted - 03/28/2012:  17:55:05

He made the largest imprint on me, other than close family, and most likely the largest imprint on music worldwide, EVER, than anybody. He's on the wings of angels now. Hug Louise for all of us.

alabamapicker - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:01:22

God Speed Earl!  I know you will be reunited with Louise and Steve.  I Love You.

gspee

od

TB-4 Guy - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:04:03

He was a fine man and a fine banjo player. Godspeeed, Mr. Scruggs. 

robmac07 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:04:46

A legend and a real gentleman! He was my inspiration. Had the privelige of travelling way up from Oz in 2004 and met him in NC 2004. Sadly missed. He'll be pickin' with the angels now as his legacy rolls on!

Rick Polston - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:06:01

Thank God for sharing him with us. I Love You Earl, pick in peace.

Hankon5 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:06:06

Earl-most of us here that are playing the banjo was because of you and your music---it is truly a sad day. You have been a standard by which all are measured! Thank you for your music and devotion to bluegrass and pickin'. We are left with your banjo playing legacy by which we will still adhere to. We will miss you greatly. What a great band it will be in Heaven!!!!!

chickenpickin - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:08:16

Prayers sent for his family. What a mark he has left on the music community!!! He's the reason I wanted to learn the banjo.

dmiller - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:11:03

Another icon gone.    Rest in Peace Mr. Scruggs.

William Hayes - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:12:12

Bummer.

JerryF - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:13:30

Skipped a breath when I saw this. Very sad news. Glad to have the Banjo Hangout community to commiserate with.

banjoez - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:14:05

God Bless You Earl, the world is a better place because of you. You are the reason most of us are here.

Edited by - banjoez on 03/28/2012 18:26:05

bhrb75 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:18:30

Like Eric said earlier, he was the guy that made and STILL makes me want to play the banjo. I only got to meet him once and I got enough nerve to tell him, "I've listened to you pick so much I feel like I know you." That got a little chuckle out of him. Well, all that can be said is thanks from all of us will never be enough for him for what he gave us.

B.

Tamarack - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:21:23

A sad day. I hope the condolences and fond memories from the music community -- not just the banjo community or bluegrass community, but everyone who loves music -- will be a comfort to his family and friends.

Rest in Peace Earl.

Yard Onion - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:23:46

RIP Earl. You will continue to inspire!

eagleisland - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:26:55

We were all blessed to have him with us as long as he was.  What a gift he gave us all.

Thanks, Earl, for everything.  Sure wish I could hear that next jam!

stringman711 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:28:01

I realized a long time ago that had it not been for Earl, the banjo and bluegrass music as we know it, wouldn't be here today.















 

Edited by - stringman711 on 03/28/2012 18:28:42

bohemian - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:28:12

RIP

Flatt and Scruggs will be together again.

I started banjo in 1972 because of Earl Scruggs. I learned much from his book. I was fortunate to attend a Scruggs concert in Jacksonville Oregon at the Britt  Festival a couple years back. He was still great then. 

Flying Eagle - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:35:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Pope

Earl was the reason I got into Bluegrass...

---

 Earl was the main reason FOR bluegrass.  Without him it would have never happened.  RIP Earl.  We all love you.

JW

banjoman56 - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:36:00

I just heard the news and it's like losing a family member. My first memory of banjo music goes back to when I was just a small boy and would watch Lester, Earl and The FMB'S on a weekly T.V. show. Foggy Mt. Breakdown is the tune I remember from those days. I would get mad if they didn't play it on the show. To me it's the greatest piece of music ever composed. After listening to it thousands of times, I still love hearing Earl play it just as much as I did when I first heard it. My prayers are with his family and friends tonight. R.I.P. Earl, you were the best and always will be.

Stevespickn - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:36:12

Earl's the reason bluegrass took off in 1946. With the drive of the banjo, that had never been heard before, bluegrass took off. I know Bill was the father of bluegrass, but to me Earl knew what it needed, and he poured it on like it's never been done before. 

Miss you Earl,

Steve

Lono - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:37:01

The first song I actually learned to play by only listening to Earl's playing was Hear That Whistle Blow.   You're home Earl, RIP, and many thanks.

Paul

panthersquall - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:37:05

Awwww. Dang it :-(

nechvillepicker - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:39:01

Earl was my hero. Gone but not forgotten. Like he played it best he's...... home sweet home.

jfb - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:43:42

My wife just informed me of this very sad news..the banjo world will never be quite the same, we will all miss you Mr Earl, more than words can ever say..but your music will live on, no one ever made the banjo sound quite like you did..

Tripwire - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:44:32

Very sad news. R.I.P. Mr. Scruggs
I always check Yahoo news when I get on the internet to make sure there's no big news going on before I come to BHO...I don't guess I'll bother doing that anymore

flake - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:51:13

I can't think of any words to string together that do him justice. 

mk

sideways - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:53:42

The BEST ever PERIOD! God Bless You Mr. Scruggs.

Wes Lassiter - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:54:27

I love you Earl for all you have done for my life. Rest in peace.

Ukeridge - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:54:38

What an honor it was just to be alive during his lifetime, to play his music, knowing he was around. All those single phrases, slowed down, to uncover the wit behind how HE did it. We've all done it as a matter of course. This very evening, before I read the news, was teaching my band Roll in My Seeet Babies Arms, so we turned to his recording, of course, as a mater of course . . . Some 60-odd years later. Having put my fingers where his fingers went, I feel like I knew him well. Not usually choked up when a famous person passes, but this one stings. How he will be missed . . .

banjerpickor - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:55:21

You were one of my heros Earl and even though we never meet, you  touched mine

and many others lives as well.. I know God loves good banjo picking.

I'm going to look you up when i get there.

Edited by - banjerpickor on 03/28/2012 18:56:02

wbelm - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:58:10

Earl Scruggs......One of God's best. I am so thankful for this fantastic human life. God Bless.....You are missed but will continue to live in the hearts of millions.

AndyM - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:58:29

R.I.P., Earl

Mike Greylak - Posted - 03/28/2012:  18:59:26

farewell blues,

FatManMary - Posted - 03/28/2012:  19:01:42

Literately teared up. RIP Earl. Your mark will never be forgotten.

Biehnbanjer - Posted - 03/28/2012:  19:02:38

RIP Earl...your playing motivated me to pick up a banjo...Thank you! 

sending positive energy to his family and friends during this difficult time.  

Banjophobic - Posted - 03/28/2012:  19:07:20

I was in the car running a few errands when it came over the CBS radio news. I almost ran off the road. It felt like someone hit me in the gut. I knew Earl would pass away sometime, but I always hoped it would be in the year 2150. Words can't explain how important he was to American music and to the millions of pickers around the world. I do know this, without Earl's banjo style in the mix, Bluegrass would not have ever been what it became.

Seeing Earl in the Beverly Hillbillies on those reruns, made me want to play the banjo. Wearing out those old F&S records  was such fun and so important ! He was always a nice guy to, whenever you would meet him at shows and he was always humble. This is a huge loss for me and to the banjo world. Lets hope they do a memorial service to remember because the guy deserves every bit of it.

DGardner - Posted - 03/28/2012:  19:07:31

Earl is the main reason I play and strive to be better... Heaven has another great banjo player. Earl has left a great legacy of the music that he loved so much, and the playing style that was simply his own. Copied and adored by many, Earl's music will carry on for generations to come. As Mr. Scruggs wrote, he was particularly thankful for and honored by the many people who refer to three-finger banjo picking as "Scruggs-Style"... I think the opposite is true also. We are very proud and honored to be playing the instrument that Earl brought to life and made popular. I am very proud to be a banjo player and would have loved to met Earl. Even if I've never met him, every time I play, he is with me. Earl, you are finally home with Louise, where you belong...