Blue Grass Boy

By Barb Rosenstock, Edwin Fotheringham (Illustrator)

Discover how Bill Monroe's Kentucky roots shaped the birth of bluegrass music.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 96 ratings

40 pages

$17.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Bill Monroe, despite his visual challenges, had an ear for the sounds of Kentucky—rushing streams, wailing winds, and family jamborees. These sounds, woven with heartache and resilience, inspired him to create bluegrass music. As Monroe navigates life's ups and downs, his deep connection to home fuels a musical revolution that influences legends like Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash. How did a boy from Kentucky change the soundscape of America? Dive into his journey and find out.

From the publisher

Learn about the creation of the unique American music called bluegrass through the story of Bill Monroe. Bill Monroe loved many things: playing music, his big family, and his home in the bluegrass state of Kentucky. Even though his eyes were crossed and didn’t work right, Bill’s ears worked hard, picking out all sorts of sounds around his treasured home: rushing streams, wailing winds, and sundown jamborees with his family. Through heartache and hard times, Bill held on to these sounds that reminded him of home. Award-winning author Barb Rosenstock and illustrator Edwin Fotheringham beautifully capture the ups and downs of Bill Monroe’s musical journey, and how his deep Kentucky roots helped him create a unique form of American music–bluegrass. Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and Jerry Garcia all credit Bill Monroe with influencing their music.

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