Sat Eye Candy: Lester Flatt

BLUEGRASS PIONEER WAS BORN TODAY!

Lester Flatt, who was born on this day in 1914, did more to popularize bluegrass music than almost anyone in the genre. As part of the Foggy Mountain Boys and one of the first successful bluegrass acts in the 50s/60s, Flatt and Scruggs, Lester picked a mean guitar and sang with the sound that defines the genre. If nothing else, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” (i.e. the theme song to The Beverley Hillbillies), may have been subliminally responsible for a lot of hippies getting turned onto to twangy music. Flatt passed away in 1979 but remains a vibrant presence in bluegrass and American culture JamBase is happy to remember him today.

With Sunday coming up this seemed a swell way to begin.

Here’s Lester with a 14-year-old Marty Stuart on mandolin and harmony vocals in 1971.

Flatt is one of the most revered artists to ever regularly grace the Grand Ole Opry stage. In their introduction here, Flatt & Scruggs are described as playing “the spirit of the Grand Ole Opry,” which couldn’t be truer even today. Their performance begins around 3:50 into this segment but it’s worth checking out what live TV and country music was like in the 1950s.

Lester could croon pretty sweet when he wanted to, like on this number he co-wrote with Bill Monroe.

One of several guest spots on the Hillbillies.

Some country kings and a queen doing a standard just right.

We wrap with a number that’s still getting kicked around my country and bluegrass folks with good taste. We miss ya, Earl!