[Scruggs] was a little bit of a North Star, Stuart tellsRolling Stoneabout the late banjo great.
A bit of a blueprint because he just lived his musical life.
He was a great role model for what I do.
Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs, the grandson of bluegrass great Earl Scruggs, perform at Earl Scruggs Music Festival.Cora Wagener Photography*
He was a forward thinker.
I said, Theyre gonna get round to it, Stuart recalls.
My heart sank and I went to a payphone and called Earl.
At that time, Flatt was in the hospital with heart failure.
This year marks the 100th birthday of the late Scruggs, who died in 2012 at 88.
If were always aiming for that, then were always doing the right thing.
There is no more singularly important banjo player than Earl, says Dave Johnston, Yonder Mountains banjoist.
All the smoothness and melodic formations that we hear on the banjo are deeply connected to Earls style.
I like to believe that hes still exploring as long as he is, so will he inspire me.
Once again,Jerry Douglaswas the master of ceremonies.
Bill Monroe had a great idea for [bluegrass].
He was looking for a new kind of music, Douglas says.
The legacy of Scruggs remains a vital source of inspiration for Douglas.
Douglas held triple-duty during the festival.
(Douglas played on the record.)
We wandered thirsty in the rain.
Bluegrass hits the parts of music Bill Monroe called the ancient tones, the 82-year-old Rowan tellsRolling Stoneafterwards.
What I do is what Earl did.
