by George Ferrell

Created on: March 13, 2009

In a world of pop culture expansion into rock, country, jazz, hip-hop and rap music, the Bluegrass genre is a truly traditional music that has criss-crossed America and the world by preserving the instruments and the outlook of a music that is often viewed in terms of nostalgia but an approach that is often blended in to modern trends.

The Grand Ole' Opry began in 1948 and Bluegrass performers were part of those early trends, but in the 1980's and 90's the banjo, fiddle and mandolin along with vocal harmony have contributed to winning acts that incorporate those instruments into pop country, or "country rock" by groups such as "The Dixie Chicks," "Cross Canadian Ragweed," "Little Big Town," "Rascal Flatts," and many others that attracted audiences that crossed over from Rock and traditional country to create a new demographic for music fans.

Younger fans blended with older fans and the country listener had more choices that went across boundaries for increased record sales and concerts that drew fans from the country side and still had a rowdy and vigorous sound.

Bluegrass came before the Opry which drew together regional acts and shows from radio stations around the country before the advent of television.

The origins of Bluegrass go back to traditional approaches that found their way to America from the Scotch-Irish settlers that came to Appalachia and elsewhere bringing their songs and instruments to their home communities.

In 1948 Bill Monroe took the leadership for Bluegrass and the Opry went more toward traditional country with many acts that incorporated Bluegrass and the instruments. To this day the tradition that acts like Monroe and The Stanley Brothers have maintained the art form in largely the same perspective.

And Bluegrass music has been across America playing to concert crowds with acts like Ralph Stanley, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Larry Sparks, the Lonesome River Band and riding tour buses to hundreds of locations from New York to California and Minnesota to Florida maintaining their traditional approach.

Fans have enjoyed the traditional songs and instruments that drew from largely rural and farming roots that dated to the time before WWII when the U.S. population had not migrated to cities and metropolitan areas.

As for radio, Bluegrass probably constituted the largest audience at least until television exploded into the 1960's and Country and Rock music became the two largely competing forms. In recent years Bluegrass music has found increased venues and additional marketing strategies have helped get the music in front of more fans.

Many enjoy Bluegrass festivals such as the one found in Gray Hawk, Ky., named for Grand Ole Opry performer David "Stringbean" Akemon, whose nephew has organized the "Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass Festival" that is held each June.

Other festivals such as "Poppy Mountain" in eastern KY and the "OrangeBlossom Festival" in Indiana, draw huge crowds with stated attendance of over 50,000 fans and several stages. There are also festivals in Mt. Vernon, Ky., and in Tennessee at the Museum of Appalachia, and in many countiies throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia mostly from the spring to summer months.

And the list of acts goes on and on with the fans following the music of acts like Larry Sigmon and Barbara Poole, Ralph Stanley, II, Mike Snider, Miller's Creek, The Fritts Family, The Virginia Cross Ties and many others while attending festivals that offer RV camping and varying amenities from food to utilities for campsites.

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