Simply a matter of remembering. | Monroe Institute

Remembering Bill Monroe, born William Smith Monroe on September 13, 1911, on his family's farm near Rosine, Kentucky – he died on September 9, 1996. Monroe was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter who helped create the style of music known as bluegrass. The genre takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys", named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader. He is often referred to as The