A True Master And Important American  Musician http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-03-28/earl-scruggs-banjo-legend-bluegrass-dies/53841194/1

Bela Fleck was highly influenced by Scruggs

I grew up in a small Missouri town, and the only guitar teacher we knew of played bluegrass.  I wanted to play Metallica, but having no other options, I figured I would learn to play what was available.  At least the music was fast, and maybe some of that fast picking would help me out (little did I know how much Metallica disdained the upstroke).  As I got older I lost interest in Metallica, but I never lost interest in bluegrass, especially when I found out bands like the Dead were influenced by the sound.  Flatt and Scruggs were the kings of that world.  They were icons bigger than life, who epitomized lean times and good music.  There will never be their like again.

One of the few albums my parents owned when I was growing up was a Flatt and Scruggs album, so I knew his music early on, and saw him often on the tv.  There is a wonderful review of his life in yesterday's Tennessean that is well worth reading.  Thank you for all the music Earl.

Here's .

Scruggs was wonderful.  Virtually invented bluegrass banjo and also branched out to an amazing variety of music.  And, of course, he'll always be remembered for The Ballad of Jed Clampett
 
May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home.
 
Bill, tgo

I saw the Earl Scruggs Review (with his son Randy on guitar) in Central Park (NYC) in the mid-seventies. 'Twas excellent.

dave..that was just amazing..I can never get over the dexterity of the playing, you can keep your shredding and tapping, this stuff is straight acoustic technique with no frills..brilliant!!!