Since the beginning of bluegrass music, various bands and groups have showcased their talent in expressing themselves through bluegrass music. Their songs and musical masterpieces have contributed to the rich library of bluegrass music.

Here are some of the greatest bluegrass musical bands of all time:

Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys

In 1938, Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass music created Blue Grass Boys which was named after his home state of Kentucky. The group lasted for almost 60 years and has become the foundation of bluegrass music.

Foggy Mountain Boys

This American bluegrass band was founded by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs who was a former member of the Blue Grass Boys. This band is considered one of the premier bluegrass groups in the history.

Osborne Brothers

Sonny and Bobby Osborne, popularly known as the “Osborne Brothers” were both influential and popular bluegrass artists in the 1960s. They are best known for the famous country hit song “Rocky Top”.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

This band played traditional country music. In the early 1970s, they embraced bluegrass music and has recorded popular singles like “Mr. Bojangles”, “Some of Shelley’s Blues” and “House of Pooh Corner”.

New Grass Revival

New Grass Revival was an American band in 1971 that specialized in progressive bluegrass music. They have released more than 20 albums. Their highest-charting single is “Callin’ Baton Rouge” released in 1989.

David Grisman Quintet

This 1975 group was inspired by diverse genres including Bill Monroe’s bluegrass legacy and Django Reinhard’s 1930s swing. The quintet created a new acoustic style of music and has influenced proceeding musicians.

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Alison Krauss started her musical career at the age of 16. She formed her band called the Union Station which showcases great bluegrass sound. Now, they remain to be one of the most popular bluegrass bands.

Trampled by Turtles

Trampled by Turtles was an American bluegrass band that has released eight full albums in which three of these have topped the US Billboard charts. Their fifth album Palomino stayed in the bluegrass charts for 52 straight weeks.

Punch Brothers

Punch Brothers is an American band that has a distinct style of bluegrass instrumentation influenced by structured of modern country-classical chamber music. They started in 2006 and has recorded 4 full albums and 2 EPs.

The Country Gentleman

Originated in the 1950s, The Country Gentleman has recorded 28 studio albums. In 1996, they were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.

The Dillards

This American bluegrass band from Missouri was popular for their role as “The Darlings” on The Andy Griffith Show. They started in 1963 and has recorded 15 studio albums.

Infamous Stringdusters

One of the most recent bluegrass bands is the Infamous Stringdusters which emerged in 2007 with their album Fold in the Road. They won three awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Their latest album release was the Laws of Gravity in January 2017.

“Kentucky Waltz”, “Cabin on the Hill”, “White House Blues” and “Under the Double Eagle” – these are some your most favorite Bluegrass songs that make you want to dance to the strumming of the acoustic guitar.

Like other genres, bluegrass music has a very rich origin and history and has been an iconic symbol of American musical heritage. There are hundreds of Bluegrass artists and bands that showcase the uniqueness of bluegrass music.

What is Bluegrass Music?

Bluegrass music is a form of American country music that is influenced by Irish, Scottish, and English traditional music. Later on, it was incorporated with jazz elements influenced by African-American music. Bluegrass music can be subdivided into three – traditional, progressive and the neo-traditional.

How did Bluegrass Music Start?

The earliest forms of musical genres were considered to be the roots of bluegrass music. In the 1600s, people from Ireland, Scotland, and England migrated to America and brought dance music and ballads. Settlers began to create music about their daily life experiences. This music is called “country music” or “mountain music”. With the invention of the phonograph in the 1900s, this country music had been showcased all over the United States.

Between the 1920s and 1930s, Monroe brothers were one of the most popular acts. Bill Monroe played the mandolin while Charlie Monroe played the guitar while they create music. However, they parted ways in 1938.

In 1939, Bill Monroe created a band called “Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys”. Blue Grass Boys were Monroe’s companions from his home state of Kentucky known as “Bluegrass state”. This band created a new form of traditional country music. They experimented with mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bass. They also explored various vocal selections. Their unique and powerful sound set their music apart from other musical genres.

Their first appearance was on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1939. From then on, they became one of the most famous touring bands. In 1945, Earl Scruggs, a banjo player joined the band. His style complemented the music of Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys and widely known as “Scruggs style”. From then on, “bluegrass” music was invented. Bill Monroe was considered “the father of bluegrass music”.

However, Scruggs departed from the band and joined Lester Flatt to create their own group called “The Foggy Mountain Boys”. They added the musical instrument Dobro into their band format. Dobro was invented by the Dopyera Brothers in the US and was widely known to be a major instrument in bluegrass music.

From 1958 to 1969, Flatt and Scruggs introduced bluegrass music to the whole United States through radio, national television, and major appearances in schoolhouses, coliseums, and universities.

In 1960, the “bluegrass festival” was created. In 1965, Carlton Haney, from Reidsville, North Carolina initiated a week-long bluegrass music festival held in Fincastle, Virginia.

Since then, bluegrass music was widely accepted by the people of the United States and has gained instant popularity around the world. Now, there is the International Bluegrass Music Association with bands and artists from over 30 countries across the globe.