What is bluegrass music? Well, it combines elements such as "high-pitched" singing and traditional instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, bass, and fiddle. There may also be a banjo, harmonica, or accordion tossed in as well. That information is per the bio of Bill Monroe (1911-1996) on the Country Music Hall of Fame web site. Monroe is known as the Father of Bluegrass Music. Interestingly, he has also been referred to as "country music's first great autobiographical singer/songwriter," per the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
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Bluegrass' influence has sometimes seeped into some country music to a degree. Here are some country songs you may know from acclaimed artists that boast a delectable sheen of bluegrass.
"To Daddy"
Sung by the incomparable Emmylou Harris, this track was penned by Dolly Parton and dropped in 1978. It was included on Harris' album, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town. The mournful theme of the song is about a long-suffering wife and mother who devotes herself to her family despite her husband's infidelity. This downtrodden woman finally leaves home in search of the love she deserves and craves. Like many story songs from Parton, it's a tearjerker in the best sense of the word. The simple orchestration, showcasing the guitar, beautifully complements the sad lyrics. Harris does it gentle justice.
"Blue Moon of Kentucky"
A much-loved standard that was written in 1945 by Bill Monroe himself, the song has been covered by an eclectic host of artists. They include Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Jerry Reed, LeAnn Rimes, and even the Beatles minus John Lennon. Per American Songwriter, "The song itself is evidently about a deep sense of loneliness...."
"My Tennessee Mountain Home"
Written by Parton herself, this 1973 track pays respectful tribute to her home in Sevierville, Tennessee. The serene images of nature it conjures up and the aura of small-town neighborliness are characteristics she seems to revere. Although Parton's amazing career has taken her far from her rural roots, she never forgot them. She is still remarkably humble and grateful. The song has more than a tinge of a nice bluegrass vibe.
"If I Had a Boat"
When you hear this song as interpreted by Lovett, you'll be thinking of bluegrass. He wrote the lilting tune. Per Songfacts, Lovett claims that this song is based on a true story. He once tried to ride a pony across a pond...." Sounds like a quite an equine adventure for both steed and rider! Find it on his album Pontiac.
