Biography

The Foggy Mountain Boys was an influential American bluegrass band founded by guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs. Because of the personnel, particularly Scruggs, who has since become iconic in music history for his masterful handling of the banjo, the group is often considered as one of the premier bluegrass groups in the history of the genre. Originally formed in 1948 by Flatt, who brought Scruggs with him shortly after leaving Bill Monroe’s bluegrass band. Historically, Monroe is considered a premier innovator of the musical genre of bluegrass, with the many early successes that promoted bluegrass to a higher interest. Flatt and Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys (in various forms and line-ups) recorded and performed together up until 1969. The Foggy Mountain Boys are seen as one of the landmark bands in bluegrass music. Although it featured various casts, during the years of The Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Grand Ole Opry Show, notably sponsored by grain and flour producer Martha White, the band showcased fiddle player Paul Warren, a master player whose technique reflected all qualitative aspects of 'the bluegrass breakdown' and fast bowing style, dobro player Uncle Josh Graves, an innovator of the advanced playing style of the instrument now used in the genre, stand-up bass player Cousin Jake Tullock, and mandolinist Curly Seckler. Scruggs is considered one of the most influential players of the banjo who ever lived. His three finger picking style is the standard now for mastering the instrument.