Butch Robins Presents - Blue Grass Music, its Origin and Development

03/14/2025

"THE ORIGIN OF THE G RUN" ~
At the first annual Bean Blossom Blue Grass Festival in 1967, Butch Robins was a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and heard Bill Monroe introduce Doc Hopkins to the audience. Bill Monroe & his brother, Charlie, were dancers for the WLS Barn Dance at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933-34. It was during this time that they became acquainted with Doc Hopkins, a noted guitar player at the time with The Cumberland Ridge Runners and later, a member of The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. According to Bill, Charlie heard and "lifted" the G Run from Hopkins, and the rest is history.

09/13/2024

The Father of Blue Grass Music ~
Bill Monroe born on September 13, 1911
Often imitated, but NEVER duplicated!

06/16/2024

Happy Father's Day to all who are ~

10/29/2023

The 4th of July, 1961 Oak Leaf Park, Luray Va. event, was a fore-runner to today's bluegrass festivals. This was a one-day event. Carlton Haney started the multi-day festivals in 1965.

04/13/2023

An honor, indeed!

On Oct. 5, 1995, Bill Monroe, "the Father of Bluegrass Music" was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. I was there in person, repre...

04/02/2023

Here's a piece of history found in the dirt on a farm near Fincastle, VA ~

On Stage - In Person
BILL MONROE
And The
Blue Grass Boys
From
Grand Ole Opry
Nashville Tenn
Bluegrass Quartet
Shenandoah Valley Trio
King of The Blue Grass.

Most likely a printing press plate from the 1950s. Carlton Haney began his career booking and promoting shows for Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys from 1953 through 1955 and put on shows in the Fincastle, VA area in the years prior to his first Roanoke Blue Grass Festival in 1965. The Shenandoah Valley Trio was the opening act for Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys.
(This image has been reversed to make it easier to read)

04/01/2023

I've said it before and I'll say it again ~ "Bluegrass is Bill Monroe".

03/17/2023

Bill Monroe is describing "rhythm" in this quote - the defining characteristic of his music.

01/23/2023

Lester Flatt, Chubby Wise and Mac Wiseman interviewed by Carlton Haney ~ Renfro Valley, 1972

11/15/2022

Bill Monroe started his Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival in June, 1967. It was a small event, but grew in popularity and continues to this day!

11/06/2022

"YOU'LL FIND HER NAME WRITTEN THERE" - Vintage Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys on the Grand Ole Opry about 1956 ~ with Gordon Terry, Bobby Hicks, Ernie Newton, Jackie Phelps and Charlie Cline