Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"An enjoyable read. . .
On the Bus with Bill Monroe provides authoritative details and entertaining commentaries about the person known as the father of bluegrass music, and also about members of the Blue Grass Boys." --
Journal of Folklore Research Reviews"A quick read that is sure to enlighten and entertain." --
Fiddler Magazine "Mormon Women at the Crossroads blends personal stories with theological considerations of women’s roles in contemporary Mormonism." --Foreword Reviews
"A rollicking ride down the bluegrass road with the Father of Bluegrass and his band, and Hembree serves as a truly entertaining tour guide." --
No Depression"A book that feels fresh and welcome despite the familiarity of the subject — not because we finally come to understand Monroe in all his complexities, but because we meet a young, wide-eyed musician trying to find his way in the great man’s considerable shadow." --
Chapter 16"[Hembree] delivers his account of that time with the sort of lively, telling detail that can come only from someone who is reporting on lived-through experience. His book is a ride well worth taking." --
Bluegrass Unlimited"I look for it to be a hit in the bluegrass world and among musicologists, as it adds to what we know about Bill Monroe from a human relationship perspective. It has nuts and bolts but also some slipped wrenches and busted knuckles. . . . I salute Hembree and this book about life on the bus. In a very articulate and pleasant manner, Hembree manages to take us along for the ride with him through an important period of Bluegrass history." --
Bluegrass Standard"Do we need one more book on Bill Monroe? Yes, if it is as honestly written as this one, and by a musician who shared the road with him for five years, covering thousands of miles and thousands of shows."--Bill C. Malone, coauthor of
Country Music USA: 50th Anniversary Edition "Enthralling." --
BookReporter.com "It paints a very, very, very true picture of life on the road, so much less glamorous than fans imagine--and the bus Monroe had when I was a Blue Grass Boy was even older and less reliable! I think this is an extremely valuable insight for those who have never lived this life. It also paints exquisite pictures of both Monroe and Kenny Baker--the men, not the performers--and this is as close a look as any who are curious will ever get."--Douglas B. (Ranger Doug) Green
Table of ContentsFalse Start Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
PART I. INTRODUCTIONS
1. William Smith Monroe 3
2. Mark Gilbert Hembree 10
PART II. “MULESKINNER BLUES”
3. “You Just Might Have a Job” 15
4. “Shh! Shh! It’s Bill!” 18
5. Monroe Enterprises 19
6. The Blue Grass Boys 21
7. Getting My Bedclothes 27
8. Learning the Vernacular 28
9. The Crucible of Chatom 31
10. Comfort Level 1 34
11. A Gentle Side of Bill 35
12. “Back Home Again in Indiana” 37
13. Uncle Birch 39
14. “Doghouse Blues” 40
15. Proper Grooming and a Tip of the Hat 41
PART III. “BREAKING IN A BRAND-NEW PAIR OF SHOES”
16. Glory Is Fleeting 47
17. The Eye 50
18. More on the Bus 51
19. Road Cuisine 52
20. A Need-to-Know Bassist 55
21. The Beer Taboo 57
22. Hangover Management 59
23. Road Journal, February 1980 60
24. Who Is That Guy? 63
25. No, Really, Who the Hell Is That Guy? 64
PART IV. “HEAVY TRAFFIC AHEAD”
26. Kentucky Fried Festival, Louisville 69
27. Taking My Time Capsules 71
28. John Duffey 72
29. On to Pocatello! 73
30. Rooms/No Rooms 74
31. Of Gloves and Bananas 76
32. Pushing the Bus up Cumberland Gap 77
PART V. “MY LAST DAYS ON EARTH”
33. Master of Bluegrass 81
34. Back in the Saddle 84
35. Monroe Hangs Tough, But It’s Tough 85
PART VI. “ROCKY ROAD BLUES”
36. The Accidental Road Manager 101
37. West Coast Routing and Canadian Customs 103
38. Road Burns and the Right Rock 106
39. Rich Comes Along for the Ride 108
40. The Poker to End All Poker 110
41. Bill on Dolly, Wayne on Bill 112
42. Winning in Tahoe 113
43. Monroe Pays the Piper 114
44. The First Thing I’m Going to Do 115
45. Bean Blossom International 116
46. All Day at the Record Table 118
47. Bluegrass Death Trip 121
48. Bill Keeps Grinding 122
49. Checking on Paycheck 126
50. Mule Day, April 3, 1982, Columbia, Tennessee 128
51. Opening the Knoxville World’s Fair, May 1, 1982 129
52. Uncle Birch and Southern Funerary Traditions 131
PART VII. “PRECIOUS MEMORIES”
53. Taking the Gospel Shot 135
54. July 24–27, 1982 137
55. Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, via the Emergency Room 139
56. A Record-Breaking Diss 141
57. River Ranch Resort 143
58. Bill’s Birthday in Louisville 144
59. Country Hardball 146
60. McClure via Coeburn 149
61. Roll On Buddy 152
PART VIII. “OVER THE WAVES”
62. Hello, Ireland! 157
63. Bill Gets His Encore 160
64. A Wonderful School of Music 162
65. The Blue Grass Goys in Israel 163
PART IX. “LIVE AND LET LIVE”
66. Pittsburgh, Unplugged 169
67. Feats of Magic 170
68. PTL: Pass The Loot 172
69. Bluegrass and the Hippies 174
PART X. “ON AND ON”
70. Just Be Ready 179
71. Serving Notice 181
72. The Road Is Clear 183
73. Grand Ole Après 185
At Last, Thanks 187
Further Reading 193
Index 195
