Trivia for April 8, 2022 – Bill Monroe’s Musical Influences

APRIL 8, 2022 TRIVIA QUESTION

Bill Monroe wasn’t born with Blue Grass music in his head, ready to go. He had influences. While it’s not often acknowledged, Bill has said some of his influences came from early 78 rpm hillbilly records, and bands he heard and saw on the WLS National Barn Dance in Chicago (notably the Prairie Ramblers, a hot fiddle band).

Before all of those influences though, when Bill was a boy at home on the outskirts of Rosine KY (a town with a single crossroads, a railroad line and 2 churches), what were his musical influences?

1. His mother Malissa who played fiddle and accordion
2. His father Buck who played the banjo
3. His mother’s brother, “Uncle Pen” Pendleton Vandiver who played square-dance fiddle
4. African-American railroad man Arnold Schultz who played blues guitar and square-dance fiddle
5. His older brother “Speed” Monroe who played mandolin as fast as lightning
6. His teacher Bill Ward at the one-room schoolhouse in Horton KY, who played guitar and sang, and led the “singing school” in summer
7. All of the above
8. 1, 3 and 4
9. 1,2, 3 and 6
10. 2 and 5