CMT Blog: Earl Scruggs

To say that Chris Scruggs has deep musical roots might be a profound understatement. Between his banjo-legend grandfather Earl Scruggs, his singing/songwriting mom, Gail Davies, and fuzzy memories of a childhood spent tagging along on tour, he's been a part of the country music community since birth. Oh, and he was a teenaged guitarist and vocalist for BR549, too. It's like he says in the opening line of his second solo album, Anthem, "You've gotta learn everything you know." He knows a lot. Lately I've been enjoying listening to him try to make sense of it all on Anthem, a fun record that points back to a diverse set of musical traditions.

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Reba McEntire always shows up in the most unexpected places. First in a hilarious Saturday Night Live skit with Andy Samberg a few weeks ago -- oh wait, that wasn't Reba? Well, there's no mistaking her distinctive voice on a new duet of "Blue Christmas" with stellar singer Andrea Bocelli. In the spirit of unexpected pairings, I've compiled a list of my favorite country Christmas songs with some selections that you probably haven't heard on country radio. Hopefully you'll find a few surprises.

"Let It Snow," Alison Brown Quartet
"Blue Christmas," Andrea Bocelli with Reba McEntire
"Last Night (I Went to See Santa)," Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
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They are not going anywhere. The Station Inn near downtown Nashville is quickly being surrounded with fancy schmancy buildings and hot spots, but there they are -- all stubborn and vintage and timeless. In a kind of run-down tiny building, they're doing what they do best: giving bluegrass music a place to call home. Dierks Bentley got his start playing there, legends like Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris and Bill Monroe have played there, and stars like Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss and even Dolly Parton have stopped by to sing. But now that the Inn is engulfed in this trendy new 'hood called the Gulch, some folks are wondering how it will survive. The lease expires next year, but the Inn's owners have an option for two more years. That's good news for anyone who likes to go, like Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, who recently caught a Doyle & Debbie show there.

Emmylou Harris was there, receiving an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music, with Linda Ronstadt on one side and Earl Scruggs on the other. Steve Martin shared the stage with Steep Canyon Rangers. Buddy Miller brought out surprise guest Robert Plant. Over the course of just three days, Ricky Skaggs, John Prine, Gillian Welch and many other bluegrass and/or alt-country folkie types all played the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park last weekend. SF Weekly has a whole gallery of pictures, but (or should I say, "butt"?) this is my favorite one because nothing says "I'm at a bluegrass festival and I want to keep my buzz going on my own terms" like a little bottle of whiskey shoved into a pair of jeans. Seriously. I think pictures like this capture the vibe of a music party even more than the portraits of the artists performing. Those are nice, and they are necessary, but crowd close-ups give you a feel for what it would've been like to really be there. And I wish I had been.

I took a road trip last weekend with a friend of mine who likes bluegrass music. As he was flipping through my CD carrier, I think he was reluctant when I suggested Steve Martin's banjo album, The Crow, but we ended up listening to it a couple of times. It's one of the finest albums I've heard all year, especially when Vince Gill and Dolly Parton sing to each other on "Pretty Flowers," with Earl Scruggs joining Martin on the banjo lines. If that sounds like you're cup of tea, check out a few other indie artists on this summer playlist.

"Clawhammer Medley," Steve Martin
"Two Days of Darkness," the Belleville Outfit
"Cuba Vera Swing," Spring Creek (with Michael Cleveland)
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From the moment Vince Gill was introduced last night (Feb. 24) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as "country's favorite knucklehead," he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand with a mix of humor and stellar musicianship. This was the last of his artist-in-residency shows at the Hall, a program that has previously honored Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson and Jerry Douglas, and Gill intended to make the best of it with a three-hour performance that featured jokes and guest appearances.

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He's got guts, that Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin. He is almost ready to release a banjo album. But just so you know, Martin isn't just another Hollywood celeb trying to go country. He went country a long, long time ago when he got hooked on banjo as a teen in the early ‘60s. I remember watching him on Saturday Night Live in the ‘70s and being surprised at how good he really was. And seeing him on The Late Show With David Letterman a few years ago, I was again pretty blown away watching him keep up with Earl Scruggs on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." And now he's teamed up with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen, another phenom, to make a banjo record due out in spring of 2009. Martin wrote all 15 songs and spent time recording in Nashville with Vince Gill, Dolly Parton and Earl Scruggs. He even does some singing on the album. Sign me up for this one right on release day.

When Levon Helm's friends showed up Wednesday night (Sept. 17) in downtown Nashville for his concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, his admirers onstage included Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow, Delbert McClinton, Billy Bob Thornton, Buddy Miller and Sam Bush. Oh, and two people from the audience -- Steve Earle and Allison Moorer -- also climbed onstage to help close the show. It was the kickoff for the Americana Music Festival and Conference that's taking place here this week.

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Last night I had one of those Nashville moments, when I found myself watching some of my favorite musicians at an easygoing show at the Country Music Hall of Fame. No big deal - just Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice ... I swear, I'll never get used to seeing that caliber of talent all in one place. Douglas is currently the museum's artist-in-residence, and this was his third show in a series of four. I'm always impressed with his own musical output, but when you have Alison Krauss singing along with the Louvin Brothers' "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby," then everything goes up a notch.

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Four Corners Folk Festival - Aug. 29-31; Pagosa Springs, Colo.
This one gets in my list because I have a soft spot for about 90 percent of the performers there. The lineup includes most of my favorite young acoustic bands like the Infamous Stringdusters, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, the Waifs, Crooked Still, the Wilders, the Greencards, Bearfoot and many, many more. I've never made it to this one, but the more I think about it I might now have plans for Labor Day weekend.

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