Earl Scruggs

Holly Gleason is a Nashville-based writer who has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, Musician, Tower Pulse, Request, Rockbill, Bam, The Illinois Entertainer, Interview, Rock & Soul and Graffiti (Canada). There have been many wonderful obits in the last day for Scruggs, but - as usual - Holly starts with a chance encounter at Waffle House and puts his giant impact on our music in proper context.

Earl Scruggs might’ve been a master musician and innovator of the same caliber as Miles Davis or Coltrane, but he was more a man who sought to bring people together. As a player, his first break came in 1945 with Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys on the Grand Ole Opry, but it wasn’t long until he and Lester Flatt teamed up and spent the 50s and 60s barn storming the country – and creating a true frame for the Appalachian musical form that was all ache and flying fingers. Flatt & Scruggs were icons. Standard-bearers. Gospel-carriers.