Ricky Skaggs talks atout the influence of Bill Monroe

[Bernie Daniel]

An engaging few minutes of discussion -- IMO. Skaggs does a simple but succinct demo on the mandolin that is revealing. He presents a consideration of Monroe as an important music influence before he even got to the bluegrass thing and Flatt and Scruggs is interesting....

[Jon Hall]

That was a good interview.Thanks for sharing it.

[Mandolin Mick]

It's great how he shows the influence of Monroe on rock `n roll and how he preceded that style by 10 years. Bob Dylan said that if he had to do it all over again he was just follow Bill Monroe.

[mandolirius]

It's great how he shows the influence of Monroe on rock `n roll and how he preceded that style by 10 years. Bob Dylan said that if he had to do it all over again he was just follow Bill Monroe.

Where's the Dylan quote from?

[JEStanek]

Where's the Dylan quote from?

Hopefully not from Jonah Lehrer.

Jamie

[Mandolin Mick]

"The stuff that I grew up on never grows old. I was just fortunate enough to get it and understand it at that early age, and it still rings true for me. I'd still rather listen to Bill and Charlie Monroe than any current record. That's what America's all about to me."

Bob Dylan as quoted in the "Music of Bill Monroe from 1936 to 1994" info booklet. Don't know the date.

[Mandolin Mick]

Looking for the other quote, but that's almost verbatim ...

[Mandolin Mick]

OK ... the 1st direct quote is from Rolling Stone, November 1987.

[Mandolin Mick]

"Bill Monroe once said that he got his best thinking done when people were talking to him. I always liked that."

Bob Dylan
November 1987 Rolling Stone Magazine

[Fretbear]

In "No Direction Home" Dylan talks about listening to an old 78 RPM record of "Drifting Too Far From The Shore" as a boy that made him "Feel like he was someone else..." There being absolutely nothing that he was born into in Hibbing, Minnesota that he could relate to in any way, it was as if nothing for him to reinvent (and rename) himself as he saw fit and to become in his own words, a "musical expeditionary."

[Mandolin Mick]

I'm sorry, but I just can't remember where I saw the quote about Dylan saying that if he had to do it all over again he'd follow Bill Monroe. I thought it was possibly in "Can't You Hear Me Callin'" by Richard Smith. But that's a pretty accurate quote, even if it isn't verbatim. It could be "if I knew what I know now" ...

[mandolirius]

Cool. I hadn't heard that one before. I know it's not in the Smith book. I have come across the "that's what America's all about" quote in other places but not that one.

[brunello97]

Dylan also once said in regards to Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watchtower" that he wondered why Jimi didn't do more of his songs because they 'were all his'. Dylan: the link between Monroe and Hendrix.

Mick

[re simmers]

Good interview. IMHO Skaggs has done what he said he would do. He has done more to promote high quality traditional bluegrass music than anyone else. He did the same for real country music in the '80's. Skaggs talks the talk and walks the walk. There are many who don't like him, and yes, he talks too much at his shows, but the man knows his stuff, and he can really play, sing and produce and promote superior traditional bluegrass music.

Is the interview recent.....if so, I guess he got a haircut.

Bob

[Mike Bunting]

The interview is about 5 years old. I saw it a long time ago.

[TonyP]

That is a great interview. It's somewhat similar to the what he says on the Bluegrass Extravaganza album right before he rips Bluegrass Special. That's one of my all time favorite mandolin breaks/tunes. period. And a great way to end his talk on Big Mon.

What has always come across for me about Ricky Skaggs is his respect, for his elders, his heroes, for his contemporaries and others. He does talk the talk and walk the walk. Even when it cost him a big career with Sony. He could have probably found something else that would have made him more $$ than Bluegrass, but I'm glad he came back to play honest music that comes from the heart, not the quarterly profits.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I think that Ricky Skaggs lost a few fans when he went into 'New Country' music,but i think that what he did within that genre was a lot better than what some others did. Ricky's alway been a 'super picker' in every sense of the word & has alway stiven for the highest standards in his playing.He's certainly one of my favourite mandolin players. His CD 'Bluegrass Instrumentals' is superb - every tune penned by him.His respect for Bill Monroe is well known,& seeing as how Ricky gets to be listened to,'telling it like it is' can be no bad thing,
Ivan

[Fretbear]

Put him on......