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INDIO, CA - MAY 03: Musician Earl Scruggs performs during day 2 of Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 3, 2008 in Indio, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Earl Scruggs

The Importance Of Earl Scruggs, As Told By His Followers

Earl Scruggs performs in Atlanta in 2003. Rick Diamond/WireImage hide caption

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Rick Diamond/WireImage

Music Interviews

The Importance Of Earl Scruggs, As Told By His Followers

Weekend Edition Sunday revisits a 2007 conversation with Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck and Steve Martin.

The Importance Of Earl Scruggs, As Told By His Followers

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Earl Scruggs: The 2003 Fresh Air Interview

Earl Scruggs onstage in 2007. Michael Buckner/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Obituaries

Earl Scruggs: The 2003 Fresh Air Interview

Fresh Air

Banjo player Earl Scruggs, who helped shape the sound of American bluegrass music, died Wednesday. He was 88 years old. Fresh Air remembers Scruggs with excerpts from an interview.

Earl Scruggs: The 2003 Fresh Air Interview

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Earl Scruggs: A Lifetime With The Banjo

Earl Scruggs shown during a show in Indio, Calif., on May 3, 2008. Michael Buckner/Getty Images hide caption

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The Record

Earl Scruggs: A Lifetime With The Banjo

The iconic banjo player, who played with Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt, developed a picking technique which defined the sound of bluegrass music. His "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" won two Grammy awards and made the banjo bluegrass' star instrument.

Earl Scruggs: A Lifetime With The Banjo

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Bill Monroe: Celebrating The Father Of Bluegrass At 100

A poor, cross-eyed boy from Kentucky, Bill Monroe created the hard-driving, high-lonesome genre known as bluegrass. Thomas S. England/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images hide caption

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Music Interviews

Bill Monroe: Celebrating The Father Of Bluegrass At 100

The poor, cross-eyed boy from Kentucky created the hard-driving, high-lonesome genre known as bluegrass.

Bill Monroe: Celebrating The Father Of Bluegrass At 100

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Tegan & Sara, Trombone Shorty And More: A Newport Festival Preview

Clockwise from upper left: Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Wanda Jackson, Tegan and Sara, Trombone Shorty.   hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Tegan & Sara, Trombone Shorty And More: A Newport Festival Preview

Hear a preview of some of the artists featured at this year's Newport folk and jazz festivals.

Tegan & Sara, Trombone Shorty And More: A Newport Festival Preview

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You Must Hear This: Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs performing at Stagecoach, a country music festival held in Indio, Calif., in 2008. Michael Buckner/Getty Images hide caption

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Music

You Must Hear This: Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs

Banjo player David Johnston was first turned on to bluegrass when he was in college. The music reminded him of a bygone era, and he especially loved the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, who continue to inspire him.

You Must Hear This: Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs

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The Story Of 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'

Earl Scruggs performs at the Stagecoach Music Festival in 2007. Karl Walter/Getty Images hide caption

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Music

The Story Of 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'

Earl Scruggs's song may have been the first to introduce audiences to bluegrass music.

The Story Of 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'

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