Musician Spotlight: Flatt & Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys

Flatt & Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys was an American bluegrass band founded by guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs in 1948. They were both previously members of Bill Monroe’s band the Blue Grass Boys. They are considered influential musicians in the bluegrass genre and had a number of hits up until 1969. The group consisted of various lineups showcasing talented musicians in the genre. The founders Flatt and Scruggs were known for their proficiency in playing their main instruments, guitar and banjo<, and they developed a distinct sound and a wide following. The Foggy Mountain Boys produced dozens of records and even hosted their own radio and TV shows during their heyday. Foggy Mountain Breakdown was one of Scrugg’s most popular compositions among their instrumental performances. It was released in 1949 and used for movies, most famously Bonnie and Clyde. It also won them two Grammy awards. The Foggy Mountain Boys also wrote TV themes including Petticoat Junction and The Ballad of Jed Clampett used for Beverly Hillbillies. The latter being one of only five TV themes to reach No. 1 on the country charts. The group created some of what are said to be the most influential and enduring songs in the bluegrass style. Beverly Hillbillies brought Flatt and Scruggs TV fame as well. The pair starred on the show several times playing old friends of the Clampett family. They also performed their original song Pearl Pearl Pearl on the show which then reached No. 8 in the country charts in 1963. This was by no means their only TV experience as they had also performed on a live CBS network show The Revlon Revue: Fold Sound, USA. This is when the band also included a drummer for the first time. This was against the opinion of Flatt who preferred to stick to the more traditional bluegrass composition of instruments. Take a listen to their music here:

The group performed at The Grand Ole Opry, a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee. The Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio show in the country. It celebrates a mix of musicians from the genres bluegrass, folk, country, Americana, and gospel. Scrugg’s banjo playing saw him fame across genres, particularly folk. He also took a more progressive turn by collaborating with the likes of saxophonist King Curtis and Bob Dylan. This wasn’t much to the liking of traditionalist Flatts and led to the band splitting up in 1969.

The Foggy Mountain Boys’ greatest legacy is the influential banjo playing of Scruggs on future bluegrass musicians. Flatt’s pleasant vocals are also renowned in the genre. The group had many talented members including the fiddle player Benny Martin and dobro star Josh Graves. In 1985 Flatt & Scruggs were added to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Many fans consider The Foggy Mountain Boys to be the greatest band in bluegrass history.