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Funny Billy Strings has played with everyone and anyone in Bluegrass but Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. Always wondered why.

LOL - Kenny had a taste for music that mattered.

Because he was a cut above than 99 percent of the musicians back in that time.. except for Scruggs..

Don Reno was the real deal. Like many others, he always took the time for you. Good job Butch!

Met Tony at Bass mountain just after his book came out . Tony was signing books in a cabin seemed gracious to all . I got him to sign my son’s Dukes 01 hat . Told Tony about Larry living across the street from my family when I was a pre-teen . My friend having old cassette tapes of Tony , Larry and a few other doing an impromptu jam at the work release center just down the road… his father was staying there at the time … he was very gracious and remembered that time … one of Tony’s cousin had a local bluegrass/country music club in Ellenton , Florida . Leon Poindexter and his brother Larry played in the band at the time .

That's actually a good Monroe impression Brad

This came out when I was still in my student days, and moving from house to house a lot. The first thing I'd do when I got to a new place and set up my playback system (I had quality equipment in those days) was to put this one on. I'm not a musician, but I'm always nearly struck dumb by the way "Sanctuary" curls around chord progressions I can't identify. It's a cosmic mystery to me. Later, I was able to get a copy of the SACD, but I never had a player for it; mainly it's a collectible, but it does have those 2 extra tracks. Thanks for presenting this.

Mark OConnor is real good - but it took until Cleveland to rival Clements .

Your Right!!!

I never met butch robbibs read His interview in masters if the banjo seemed a little harsh after hearing thid interview I find Mr Robbinscto be of great character Bill Keith told me many stories about bill Monroe abd I’d never okay fir someone like that. No thank you stuck on a bus for miles days. I have a tour bus it’s huge but with a temperamental. Petson avd 5 other guys it’s a sardine can on wheels. I hear Doyle Lawson is similar. If you see a lot of musician changes you can bet the header is a tyrant No excuse for that. Music is supposed to be beautiful enjoying. Not full of rage. Love the kindness Nr Robbins showed him in the end. Love it

About a bizillion Billy Strings,Molly Tuttle, BlackBerry Smoke fans say bluegrass is in pretty darn good hands.this guys bummed he isn’t involved and he couldn’t play the young guys like Jeff Failies can play. Sounds bitter to me.

man. such a shame. ive always felt tonys singing was just as powerful as his playing. perhaps he could have recovered with vocal therapy. alas, we will never know.

Billy bullshit

I know he played the whole time. Even on top of other players taking their breaks. He wanted to take every break and every time he played it had the same slurs and licks.

Awesome

He doesn't sound too happy about the way Tony handled it. I have heard that Tony refused any and all therapies to rehab his voice. It must have been frustrating for his bandmates.

I think Mr Monroe would love Billy Strings.

I've always wanted to hear Mary Chapin Carpenter's demo of this. It's a great song.

Nice to hear someone stand up to him.

Hi Brad, thanks so much for sharing this! When was this recorded?

So ultimately, the country stars had refused to follow "Reno & Smiley" all because of Carlton Haney unexpectedly cutting off Bill Anderson during the closing part of that one show & having Reno & Smiley do the closing instead? Did I understand that correctly? 🤔

I love that Bill is petty with Vassar Clements, a great melody writer. He also used lots of riffs though. Maybe because he didn’t have a Bill like rhythm. I don’t know what I’m talking about

This song is a masterpiece of songwriting and Tony Rice's performance closes the circle of whatever comes close to country music perfection. I am very grateful to you, Brad, for caring enough about this song and these artists to produce this account. I developed an interest in Carpenter's work on the strength of this tune and now own most of her recordings. What's sad is that I no longer can find my copy of "Native American" so I'm just gonna have to go out and get myself another one. Bluegrass is a real niche market over in Europe where I now reside, but I'll get it one way or another. I wish you and your channel much success.

Brad, Thanks for sharing your story. My interactions with Tony are many and several are hilarious but some NOT family friendly...... but still awesome! Tony had a wicked sense of humor and loved to hang with the guys.....

Bill Monroe was the textbook example of Man In Charge. When it comes to your boss, whether the opinion is good or bad, be careful of what you say around others.

First saw Tony play at (of all places) a Straw Hat Pizza Parlor in San Jose, right around the time he started playing with David Grisman Quintet, I believe it was 1975. Totally struck by all that was moving was his hands, almost like he and his old Martin were one and the same. His solos were larger than life as if they just floated out of his guitar. I was just learning bluegrass and a year later at gig in Palo Alto I approached him and asked if he gave guitar lessons and he graciously agreed to one at his apartment in Marin at that time. My take away was one incredible G blues lick he said he had learned from Sam Bush. A real privilege!

czcams.com/video/wk4wXqMJH0w/video.htmlsi=9aGQijv5C8VX8Czr Not flat-picking by any means but his beain works in these “dimensions” as a result - I’m sure - of having been exposed to music from the womb & Tony Rice’s music - along w/ Mark O’Connor & others was playing in the background while Luke (my firstborn)… was being born… Luke created this only a few minutes ago & so I thought I’d share it. Godspeed!

Mother’s Day, 2003… He was very humble… got to meet him after the show. He was a master of human relations as well as the craft but I suppose that is part of the craft at that level… My camera failed to get a shot.. it was a digital camera & I think they were still new… he commented that we cannot depend on technology… Mr. Rice has - no doubt - helped shape so many people’s lives in many ways… my boys were raised on his music from the womb. Me - since I was a kid (early 80s)… If we do what we’re put on this earth to do then the trickle-down - or.. “butterfly effect” is immeasurable & I think that my musical hero did his job to the fullest & passed the torch on to my new heroes- (my sons)… they are indebted to him (unbeknownst to them) as the synapses firing so early on in their journey of life has definitely had a strong impact on their lives in countless ways - to their credit. RIP Tony!

That’s a great story. What if Kenny Baker had joined Bobby Hicks and Vassar on volume six? It would’ve been triple fiddle heaven.. Kenny had his reason I guess like you said.

Great story! I heard that Monroe had said something similar - '' uh, that Vassar can really hurt a number''... Cannot recall where I heard it...

I first heard of Jimmy Gaudreau from the live Tony Rice at Tony Rice Unit - Mechanics Hall - Worcester, MA. (4-8-1990). What a great show that is to listen too. Thanks for posting this interview.

I've always found this line of thought to be silly Bill Monroe's music wasn't one kind of song or not country music it was played in place that presented county music it was a style of playing it.and is like saying that things can't change,when they always do it's only when things change so must you no longer se any root in it that it's not the same thing.

Thx. I really appreciate the insight into the everyday life of these beloved folks

That kid who came in late -- was that Gary Busey?

Bill Monroe didnt play games with people and was honest to a default.

good stuff !

John Duffy sounded great for the seldom scene and the country gentlemen. John Duffy wasn't a bad mandolin player but he definitely wasn't a good one either

My enduring memory of David Grier is meeting him at Bill Monroe's festival in Bean Blossom when he was playing with Doug Dillard, probably 1988 or 1989. I bought his Freewheeling album after their performance Friday night, then met him at the record table Saturday afternoon. He was very friendly and got his D-18 out of the case to show to me. After Monroe closed the show that night, I walked to the rear of the concert area and found David and a couple of his friends jamming up there. I stayed and listened to them until about 2:00 am. One of the best guitar players I ever heard.

He's lucky Scotty Stoneman wasn't there.

Flatt was a poor guitar player. All that time had to learn, but he couldn't.

Butch was as good as anybody else, and better than most.

Your Love is Like a Flower was the last song T ever sang.

I really wish I got into bluegrass earlier because almost all my favorite bluegrass artists r dead by now 😞

Hi, Brad . Michael Holmes 😮 fine video bro.. your the closest I've ever heard compared to the likes of Tony. I met him also. He was a kind person. Tony tought me g c and d cord! ❤ I didn't get much further than that. But inevitable my brother is on the grand Ole Opryland list to play any time. Jon my brother plays banjo. Jon is close to Mike snider , the home of my grandaddy Jimmy Sanders Brad. Gleson tn... So we all have met him a few times and he played like a hit man! And never missed a note! Bad to the bone. Wish you the best brad.

In my opinion the two greatest guitarists to ever walk the planet were Tony Rice and Jerry Reed. How do you replace talent like that? You are correct though, I know a few songs note for note by those two fellows. The sound or feeling whatever, cannot be replicated.

I’d say Billy strings is carrying the torch quite well.

Jerry Garcia comes to mind for me as not the same after He’s Gone. I saw Tony and Jerry play together with David Grisman at a house party outside of Truckee, CA a really long time ago. In another life.

Tony Rice was the GREATEST GUITAR PLAYER EVER!!!!!!!!

Did any of y’all ever hear of J.D. Jarvis gospel blue grass group from Kentucky.

I agree with Adam. Most but not all of the younger players have not studied bluegrass music from the ground up. They're more interested in seeing how many notes and licks they can get in. The other thing is that they don't know how to play together or play with any feeling.