I've read stories about him blacking people's eyes just for missing a note. I've also heard stories about him lifting his whole band up on his shoulders with a piece of wood.
It is worth noting Joe Stuart on the guitar. Joe Stuart played with Bill Monroe off and on from the 50s. Joe played every instrument you see here; banjo, fiddle, bass, and guitar, but he considered himself a mandolin player. During the 50s, when Elvis had taken the fans from every form of music, Bill would travel from town to town with only Joe Stuart. Bill would hire local musicians as pick-up players and Joe would play what ever instrument was missing from the 5 piece. Joe said that he even filled in on mandolin when Monroe had injured himself.
I have experienced Bill Monroe with his Bluegrass Boys in "Zug" in Switzerland, when he was over 70 years old. Oh boy, he brought the whole tent to a boil. And his band was great. Loud young musicians, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin. They were like a bluegrass and rock and roll band. I will not forget this concert.
Bringing it all back home.....the yodelling was probably introduced to Apalachian mountain region by folks from Austria and Switzerland and became part of the local tradition before evolving into the country sound.
Oh Man, this is it! Kenny Baker - the epitome of Bluegrass Boy fiddle! Check those double stops and timing during the second part of his second break. Love the way Bill always used to let the fiddle have the whole thing with this number after he opened it with mando. And Bill's rhythm chop - strong, solid & always there. Also, yes, a young Jack Hicks on banjo and Bill's right hand man, Mr. Joe Stuart, on guitar. Joe could play anything and did with Bill - also Bill used to somethings "carry" him as his only man on the road when times were lean - Bill would pick up other players "on the way" and would use Joe on the unfilled instrument. The late, great Joe Stuart - usually not mentioned much & underrated. But, anyway, Kenny - WOW!
Want to hear another incredible rendition of this one? On google music, look up Wilson Family Band and the album is 'Family Ties'. Their daughter just kills this song with her perfect yodals!
I have a lot of respect for many fiddlers,there's been some great ones throughout the years. As a fiddle player myself,I must say Kenny was the best in bluegrass. Just my very humble opinion, as I don't intend to take anything from the other great players. Each one played their own part in this great music.
Bill Monroe is no hillbilly, he’s the honorable Mr. Bill Monroe! Greatest mandolin player and bluegrass performer to ever grace a stage. Played it like the boss he is💗😎🇺🇸
My favorite Kenny Baker tune and video. I learned this tune from listening to Richard Greene, who was sounding a lot like Kenny when he played with Monroe and Peter Rowan in the 60s. Kennys version is perfect.
"Mule Skinner Blues" or "Blue Yodel #8" is a great old Jimmie Rodgers song, written by Rodgers and George Vaughn Horton back about 1930 and first published in the summer of that year. I doubt there is a more coved song in existence. Most everybody and their brother and sister have coved this song. In case you are wondering, like I was, just what is a muleskinner, it is not one who skins mules. A mule is a valuable and highly prized draft animal, the offspring of a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey.) It has been said that the dumbest mule is smarter than the smartest horse. Mules are also much stronger than horses. A muleskinner is a muleteer. A muleteer is one who drives mules. Listening and watching the father of Bluegrass cover this song is a treat. Thanks for the upload.
No kid in Nashville Tenn Today 2017.can play a fiddle like this man..he is totally possessing..100 years from now..kenny baker will be the best fiddle player to have ever played a fiddle in Nashville tenn.watch him move a bow and his tone on a fiddle is incredibly even and good.for Monroe's music..he invented bluegrass fiddle playing..r.jones.nash.tn.
Right, nobody made whiskey or got drunk and never beat their wives. People never starved to death or were cheated out of money while working in coal mines Sorry to tell you this, but you have an idealized idea of life back then. As a wise man once said, "Religion is seen by the ignorant as true, by the wise as false and by the powerful as useful."
Boyfriend worked at the Great American Music Hall in Atlanta early 70's and I got to meet Mr, Monroe. Yikes. I'm still afraid! Very cold and unfriendly man, but he can be anything as long as he represents the beauty of our American heritage. Thank you and RIP,Sir.
We started going to bluegrass festivals in the 70s, mostly the Brown Co jamborees, and the ol' KFC festival in Louisville KY-- Now, I volunteer at 3 of them mostly in the Midwest!!!!!
Ayyyy God that's good!! I was fortunate enough to have sat right in front of him when I was 15 or 16 and heard them do this and many other truly important pieces of American music.
Evertime I hear this beautiful music. It takes me back when I was alittle boy when I knew never back talk my mom dad . Discipline. Boy my dad knew how to use a paddle. Respect your parents.Thank you Bill Monroe for this beautiful music
The fellow playing Banger is Jack Hicks he now lives back in his home town of Ashland Ky. jut about two miles from me. agreat steel player as well as Banjo
Bill debuted on the Opry in the late 1930s with this Jimmie Rodgers song, playing it on guitar! It secured his job there for decades. ;) Kenny Baker proves why Bill (who was stingy with compliments) called Kenny his favorite Bluegrass Boy fiddler. Yowzah!
they really rock! 👍 the inventor of Blue Grass. a mule skinner was someone that could out smart the stubbornest of mules and get them to do what they wanted.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Jimmie Rogers . He and George Vaughan wrote this song and NO ONE has ever done it better, including Monroe. .You’ll thank me later.
Good folks and friends, these cats are just having an average standard session, most of them have been playing longer than I've been alive at nearly half a century. What a relaxed, good old time, let's just pluck out one of the old tunes boys...and greatness ensues. There is a reason most the world enjoys this music, it is so timeless. What a fiddle...
Guitarists, notice that acoustic percussive rhythm, that is the Heat, he makes that guitar sound like an entire band. If they sounded any tighter I'd have to measure this in metric units, you could drop a transmission with tools like these.
I seen them at campbells corner oxford pa in 1963 or 64. I was a little one. There was also Melba Montgomery there. I hiked on over to her and sat on her lap. God she was beautiful. I would like to talk to her now.
the best music hard work of the cowmen i don't care if there's not a soul or a person for hundreds of miles you smoke tobacco in that barn your fried from a good gracious good giving job
This could well be the greatest Bluegrass performance ever recorded. Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker at the top of thier game!
I would have loved to be one of those eight people who were there to applaud for them.
Also written by the most talented woman to ever live?✌️❤️
Yes.
Would give anything to be in that audience!
Couldn't agree more. My favorite as well
Kenny Baker's playing on this tune is the epitome of bluegrass fiddling. He was the greatest.
prof5string will always be damn straight ,no one today is anywhere near is talent or ability hands down!!!!!
Yes he was. Bill was lucky to have him.!
Kenny was something else and I'm sure that Vassar Clements learned a lot from him, as he's just as good a fiddle player
He outshines Monroe in this song
Genius player
Unmatched hillbilly voice of Bill Monroe! Incredible discipline he demanded on stage of his musicians! Precise, impeccably dressed and professional!
I've read stories about him blacking people's eyes just for missing a note. I've also heard stories about him lifting his whole band up on his shoulders with a piece of wood.
as a little boy i grew up listening and loving music like this henh !
It is worth noting Joe Stuart on the guitar. Joe Stuart played with Bill Monroe off and on from the 50s. Joe played every instrument you see here; banjo, fiddle, bass, and guitar, but he considered himself a mandolin player. During the 50s, when Elvis had taken the fans from every form of music, Bill would travel from town to town with only Joe Stuart. Bill would hire local musicians as pick-up players and Joe would play what ever instrument was missing from the 5 piece. Joe said that he even filled in on mandolin when Monroe had injured himself.
Kenny Baker tearing up that fiddle!
+Hammerin' Hank
yep...but wait till u see
G O D !!!
@@bernardpopp541 Kenny's teaching God how to play fiddle.
I grew up listening to this and I will die listening to this!!!! Greatest music ever made.
Kenny is the baddest fiddle player ever period!!!
Kenny Baker is flat walking that fiddle. Never get tired of watching this performance.
Glad you enjoy it
I have experienced Bill Monroe with his Bluegrass Boys in "Zug" in Switzerland, when he was over 70 years old. Oh boy, he brought the whole tent to a boil. And his band was great. Loud young musicians, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin. They were like a bluegrass and rock and roll band. I will not forget this concert.
I'm a huge metal fan and Bill Monroe can shred better than I've ever seen..... He melts that fretboard
Yes, I was there too playing with Groundspeed at the festival. Great memories !
Why aren´t I in America yet? The music alone is worth it to live in the States!! Greetings from Austria
Bringing it all back home.....the yodelling was probably introduced to Apalachian mountain region by folks from Austria and Switzerland and became part of the local tradition before evolving into the country sound.
No, the music is not a good reason. The government just wants us all to expire. I bet your country is waaaaayy better.
Come to the States brother and enjoy the the music , bring your Glock with ya 👍
@@millieatr OK, I´m gonna do this! I only have a CZ Shadow2
@@sigistrele5835 Thats a badass gun 👍
Oh Man, this is it! Kenny Baker - the epitome of Bluegrass Boy fiddle! Check those double stops and timing during the second part of his second break. Love the way Bill always used to let the fiddle have the whole thing with this number after he opened it with mando. And Bill's rhythm chop - strong, solid & always there. Also, yes, a young Jack Hicks on banjo and Bill's right hand man, Mr. Joe Stuart, on guitar. Joe could play anything and did with Bill - also Bill used to somethings "carry" him as his only man on the road when times were lean - Bill would pick up other players "on the way" and would use Joe on the unfilled instrument. The late, great Joe Stuart - usually not mentioned much & underrated. But, anyway, Kenny - WOW!
Kenny Baker is the GOAT of fiddle playing period!!!
Man, I love that Kentucky bluegrass music.
Bluegrass is life without it the rivers would run red.
Same! :)
Want to hear another incredible rendition of this one? On google music, look up Wilson Family Band and the album is 'Family Ties'. Their daughter just kills this song with her perfect yodals!
i love it to in the west coast of europe
I have a lot of respect for many fiddlers,there's been some great ones throughout the years. As a fiddle player myself,I must say Kenny was the best in bluegrass. Just my very humble opinion, as I don't intend to take anything from the other great players. Each one played their own part in this great music.
I'm feeling that high lonesome sound!
Bill Monroe is no hillbilly, he’s the honorable Mr. Bill Monroe! Greatest mandolin player and bluegrass performer to ever grace a stage. Played it like the boss he is💗😎🇺🇸
He is from KY. He is considered a hillbilly. I am too. KY native
I’m a hillbilly too. S.w. vA.😂😊🇺🇸😎
Lol, yes, you are
Human being....
will never ever tire of kenny's fiddle sound and technique..!!!
Kenny Baker is absolutely amazing! Bill's not bad either.
No one can play bluegrass like Kenny Baker :) stunning tone and melodies!!! :€
perfect voice at this age, thats amazing
Kenny Baker is the best bluegrass violinist of all time!!'''''!!!!!
you're right, bands needed him, he didn't need them.
It was recorded on the Jim and Jesse TV show in early 70s
The fiddle player is as smooth as silk.
This is the best music ever!! Love you Bill and Kenny!!
This is the music I live for.
YES!
Me to
One of my favorite versions of this song, and I've heard many.
Blessed to have been raised in East Tennessee where friends, neighbors, community could see the music spring up like like magic.
I often wish it was possible to be there when he played this for his Grand ‘Ol Opry audition. The Master! Awesome!
Smoothest fiddle I've ever heard, coming from a fellow violinist. 🎻
Yes one of the greatest. Jascha Heifetz and Kenny Baker are the finest violinists I ever saw perform!
I never get tired of hearing Kenny.
Kenny Baker. There will never be another like him....
Each song is meaningful and it's soothing to the soul when you stressed especially this time of pandemic..God bless all the listeners 😍😊
This perfect Mountain Music offering has it ALL! Bill Monroe, excellent fiddler and that essential addictive pure Beat we love.
Bluegrass is the heart beat of Country music.
My favorite Kenny Baker tune and video. I learned this tune from listening to Richard Greene, who was sounding a lot like Kenny when he played with Monroe and Peter Rowan in the 60s. Kennys version is perfect.
"Mule Skinner Blues" or "Blue Yodel #8" is a great old Jimmie Rodgers song, written by Rodgers and George Vaughn Horton back about 1930 and first published in the summer of that year. I doubt there is a more coved song in existence. Most everybody and their brother and sister have coved this song.
In case you are wondering, like I was, just what is a muleskinner, it is not one who skins mules. A mule is a valuable and highly prized draft animal, the offspring of a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey.) It has been said that the dumbest mule is smarter than the smartest horse. Mules are also much stronger than horses. A muleskinner is a muleteer. A muleteer is one who drives mules.
Listening and watching the father of Bluegrass cover this song is a treat. Thanks for the upload.
Man that guy can play a Tennessee fiddle..hes a killer..the best ever..rj
No kid in Nashville Tenn
Today 2017.can play a fiddle like this man..he is totally possessing..100 years from now..kenny baker will be the best fiddle player to have ever played a fiddle in Nashville tenn.watch him move a bow and his tone on a fiddle is incredibly even and good.for Monroe's music..he invented bluegrass fiddle playing..r.jones.nash.tn.
R.I.P. Kenny & Mr. Bill.
I could listen to Kenny play this and Jerusalem Ridge everyday, all day. )
None better than the master of bluegrass fiddle...kenny baker!!! Salute!!!!
Absolutely superb. Magnificent fiddle.
THE AMERICA I LOVED!!!
where God's ways were respected...and the rural culture reflected that!!#
Right, nobody made whiskey or got drunk and never beat their wives. People never starved to death or were cheated out of money while working in coal mines Sorry to tell you this, but you have an idealized idea of life back then. As a wise man once said, "Religion is seen by the ignorant as true, by the wise as false and by the powerful as useful."
Fiddling. Mastery at its best
The best
Boyfriend worked at the Great American Music Hall in Atlanta early 70's and I got to meet Mr, Monroe.
Yikes. I'm still afraid! Very cold and unfriendly man, but he can be anything as long as he represents the beauty of our American heritage.
Thank you and RIP,Sir.
I can listen to this song over and over!! Awesome music wish they still played this kind of music!!
HIS IMMENSE STAGE PRESENCE, TRULY LARGER THAN LIFE, SAW HIM AT THE BRICKSKELLER IN D.C. OVER 40 PLUS YEARS AGO. WHAT A TALENT AND SHOWMAN!
Life and times are precious live your life full of love
I REMEMBER MY GRANDMA TELLING ME ABOUT SEEING BILL PLAY AT THE LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSE IN FANCY GAP VA. IN THE MIDDLE 40'S,
David Hall The name of that school was Brookmore School grades 1 thru 12
Normally I shudder when I see comments in all caps, but you deserve a pass.
My dad has talked about them playing at Blue Ridge High School back then. Bill tried to get my grandpa to travel with him playing fiddle
Bill played about anywhere that paid good money...
@@johnjriggsarchery2457 thank you i was drunk
Kenny Baker was pure genius!!!
Think this is my favourite rendition. That Kenny Baker is sublime.
I freaking love this tune. Old country and bluegrass is amazing
Some mighty fine pickin and grinnin
The G.O.A.T. Ladies and gentlemen
I had some of his LPs when I was a 1970s teenager.I liked several of the oldies of bluegrass, but he was my fave.He had alot of great hits.
We started going to bluegrass festivals in the 70s, mostly the Brown Co jamborees, and the ol' KFC festival in Louisville KY-- Now, I volunteer at 3 of them mostly in the Midwest!!!!!
Beautiful !
You could spread Kenny Baker's fiddle playing on a Martha White biscuit!!Kenny is the pride of Jenkins, Kentucky!!
Ayyyy God that's good!! I was fortunate enough to have sat right in front of him when I was 15 or 16 and heard them do this and many other truly important pieces of American music.
This is the best version of this song. The orchestration makes it unique.
Evertime I hear this beautiful music. It takes me back when I was alittle boy when I knew never back talk my mom dad . Discipline. Boy my dad knew how to use a paddle. Respect your parents.Thank you Bill Monroe for this beautiful music
Whats that got to do with corporal punishment😂😂😂😂😂😂
Don’t get no better than this
Kenny Baker makes that fiddle talk.!!!
The fellow playing Banger is Jack Hicks he now lives back in his home town of Ashland Ky. jut about two miles from me. agreat steel player as well as Banjo
tomphoman ) my mom was born in flatwood in green up county Kentucky my grandpa was a coal mine.
I’m right below ya here in Louisa, home of the great Ricky Skaggs, and many more!
the kid can't help smiling while looking at Bill :)
I met Jack while he was playing bass for the Nashville Grass. He also played steel for Sonny James about that same time. Very talented and nice guy.
It's now Jack's turn to write a book.
The fiddle player is great. Great sound from his instrument
His name is Kenny Baker. He is a beast fiddle player. Him and guys like Vassar Clements Doug Kershaw are irreplaceable for sure.
I liked it!
That's real music!!!
Bill debuted on the Opry in the late 1930s with this Jimmie Rodgers song, playing it on guitar! It secured his job there for decades. ;) Kenny Baker proves why Bill (who was stingy with compliments) called Kenny his favorite Bluegrass Boy fiddler. Yowzah!
So awesome, Bill Monroe has no equal
Jimmy Rogers would be proud
they really rock! 👍 the inventor of Blue Grass. a mule skinner was someone that could out smart the stubbornest of mules and get them to do what they wanted.
Just had to listen before I start the day . I miss the Bluegrass Festivals. Always enjoyed your festival
Hello how are you doing today?
eman126100 it;s a madolin, and that old Kentucky boy could play it better than anyone - world's best.
irishmanwithagun
Cough - more than half a century earlier - cough.
@@irishmanwithagun Chris Thile couldn't carry Monroe's luggage. Cough! Cough!
@@irishmanwithagun Without Bill Monroe there would be no Chris Thile...
Probably the finest example of Bluegrass fiddlin' I've ever heard.
Gives me Goosebumps.. Unmatched Country hit from back in the day's..
Do yourself a favor and listen to Jimmie Rogers . He and George Vaughan wrote this song and NO ONE has ever done it better, including Monroe. .You’ll thank me later.
Awesome job on the fiddle!
Kenny Baker........... one of the very top best in the bluegrass
O he was so good an smooth at ease
Good folks and friends, these cats are just having an average standard session, most of them have been playing longer than I've been alive at nearly half a century. What a relaxed, good old time, let's just pluck out one of the old tunes boys...and greatness ensues. There is a reason most the world enjoys this music, it is so timeless. What a fiddle...
Guitarists, notice that acoustic percussive rhythm, that is the Heat, he makes that guitar sound like an entire band. If they sounded any tighter I'd have to measure this in metric units, you could drop a transmission with tools like these.
Dr. Bill Monroe, now see to it that you save a couple of notes for us sir.
Do you know the difference between a violin and a fiddle?
It's OK to spill beer on a fiddle.
Top of their game.
Damn those double stops on the fiddle sounds neat as f***
I could listen to Kenny baker play fiddle on this tune 50 times and ole.joe Stuart. Rj
All I wanna do is play fiddle like Mr Baker!
Joe Stuart, on guitar, is the only one smiling. An outstanding group of talent. Kenny always nailed whatever he played.
Jack Hicks on banjo gave a little smile in there.
Incredible bunch of guys
I saw Bill Monroe once in Kansas City and his mandolin was missing its twelfth fret. You’d have never known it by listening, he just played around it.
Pure talent! ☘️☘️☘️
I once played a show with Jack Hicks at the Fox Hunter Lodge in Kentucky, many years ago.
I was with Mountaineer Ramblers out of Milton WV
Yes, I did like it, Bill, you're a legend!
Love this music. Grew up with it because of my dad
Love fiddle music my dad was a champion fiddle player
I seen them at campbells corner oxford pa in 1963 or 64. I was a little one. There was also Melba Montgomery there. I hiked on over to her and sat on her lap. God she was beautiful. I would like to talk to her now.
Kenny Baker is the best I’m convinced by this performance here.
the best music hard work of the cowmen i don't care if there's not a soul or a person for hundreds of miles you smoke tobacco in that barn your fried from a good gracious good giving job
I’m just glad he didn’t poke Bills eye out! Lol
Very Good Very Good
Such a beautiful cover of this song. I love Bluegrass Believers and my talented cousins Ron & Betty! Phyllis’s voice is pure joy.
I assume Kenny Baker and his fiddle are in the Hall of Fame.If not, why not? That recording is as close to perfect as there is.
Jimmy Rogers would approve.
I love that High Lonesome Sound.