Big doings planned for Monroe centennial
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe is still four years away, but long term strategic planning is already underway to commemorate the occasion. This morning’s (6/25) edition of the Owensboro, KY Messenger-Inquirer has a story about this effort, and the collaboration among a number of entities to bring it all together.
The article notes that the centennial efforts hope to tie together the Birthplace of Bill Monroe in Rosine, KY (and the nearby site of the Jerusalem Ridge festival), The International Bluegras Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro and the Bean Blossom festival which Monroe started more than 40 years ago in Indianna. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is also expected to be involved.
From the article by Keith Lawrence:
"We need a commission to work on this," said Gabrielle Gray, executive director of the bluegrass museum. "This has enormous potential for Kentucky – if we’re unified in our approach. In one short weekend, you could walk the paths Bill Monroe walked as a boy, visit his boyhood home and grave and explore the whole history of bluegrass music at the museum."
"I strongly suspect it will be big," said Dan Hays, executive director of the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association. "Some folks are already talking about what needs to be done. It is, and rightly should be, a big deal. We’ve got it on our long-range planning agenda."
The article doesn’t seem to be available online from The Messenger-Inquirer without a paid subscription, but it is posted at PopMatters.com.


The Associated Press is reporting (via News Channel 5 in Nashville) that Gabrielle Gray has switched positions within the leadership of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY.
Gray had been serving as the museum's Executive Director, a post she leaves to assume duties as Director...
Veteran bluegrass mandolin player Dewey Murphy has promised to donate his mandolin to the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM), in Owensboro, when he retires from music.
The 79 year old from North Carolina still plays at bluegrass festivals, but his 1924 Lloyd Loar mandolin will go to a good...
The 4th Annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp will take place at the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky, on September 11 - 13, 2009.
Set up to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass," the museum has secured the services of several...
The Nashville Business Journal is reporting that James Monroe (son of Bill), will open a bluegrass music park in Franklin, KY in the spring of 2006. The site is just north of the KY/TN border, about 45 miles from Nashville. Monroe and his band, The Midnight Ramblers, will perform there weekly, with headlining...




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That’s great news! I’m planning my first trip to the USA in 2011, which is Bill’s centennial! John, please post additional infos on the subject as soon as you have them! I’d like to know what period of the year would that be. Cheers,
Matteo.
You must