One of the best biographies I have read.
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I like a bit of bluegrass and a some Bill Monroe although I would not say I am a big fan. I bought this and started to read it and found it difficult to put down. The author is clearly enthusiastic about his subject and has throughly researched the life of Bill Monroe. He writes objectively using evidence to back up his thoughts or dispel gossip when appropriate. By the end you feel you can understand the man and his music and why he was like he was. Not only that, you feel you can really understand the tough life of being a musician in those days travelling around in a car from venue to venue sleeping in the car and the struggles to get enough work. The books explores his music and his bands (numerous members well documented include Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Bill Keith etc etc) and the man (his many women, his generosity, his frugality, his fueds, his inspiration for many of his great songs, his toughness) in depth in a highly readable way. He was a musical genius and he was human. This book is his life warts and all.
WARNING.....make sure your book as no pages missing/all the pages in the right order......my copy had about 30 or so pages missing (in the middle which I disclovered as I was reading through) and which and some pages in the wrong order....clearly a publishing error.....it is worth checking .....and it was aggravating....I started to read the book long after I bought it....
I recommend this book. I now want a good set of Bill Monroes recordings.
A very well written book. Highly recommended.
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Best book on Bill Monroe around!
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This is such a well written book, that you will enjoy it even if you have no interest in Bill Monroe. For the hardcore BM fan it contains lots of little anecdotes that you probably have never heard before. Its bound to make you laugh and cry, as it is very humorous and also very moving. I have bought this book for various people and everyone of them has thoroughly enjoyed it. Its the kind of book you can read again and again.
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