Earl Scruggs Passes Away At 88

When you think bluegrass music, what's one name that comes to mind.  Chances are a lot of you just thought "Earl Scruggs".  He even perfected a 3 finger picking style of playing the banjo called "Scruggs Style".

One of the songs that made him one of the most popular bluegrass players of his time was "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" which was the theme song for "The Beverly Hillbillies".  It was recorded by Scruggs and his partner Lester Flatt along with singer Jerry Scoggins.  Scruggs and Flatt could be seen from time to time playing family friends of the Clampetts on the show.

According to CMT, it was their appearances on that show that resulted in banjo sales skyrocketing in the 60's.

Scruggs died this morning at a Nashville hospital at the age of 88.  He is survived by his two sons, Gary and Randy.  His wife Louise passed in 2006 and he was also preceeded in death by his son Steve in 1992.

[CMT]