Fresh Air · 2025-11-28 · 51 min · 7,721 words

Grand Ole Opry At 100: Earl Scruggs & Loretta Lynn

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One hundred years ago today, the Grand Ole Opry began, with a performance on the Alabama radio station WSM. We're going to mark that anniversary with performances by two country artists who were members of the Opry. We begin with the great bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, who perfected the three finger style of banjo picking that became standard in bluegrass. Along with guitarist Lester Flatt, he was half of the duo responsible for such bluegrass standards as Foggy Mountain Breakdown and the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies. In 1945, Scruggs joined Bill Munro's band, the Bluegrass Boys, the band that virtually invented bluegrass.

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