Bluegrass legends bid farewell?

In a story that ran in the Monday print edition of the New Era, officials from the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Owensboro said this year's celebration could be the last of its kind (I've included the link here to the Associated Press story that ran in the Houston Chronicle, but the original story came from the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.)

Ginger Boatwright, a Bluegrass legend, is 67 years old.

In the story, it laments the rapid aging of the inaugural Bluegrass generation; in fact, Earl Scruggs is the only member of the classic Blue Grass Boys band -- made popular by the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe -- still living.

Unfortunately I did not get to hear Scruggs play when I attended the event, but I heard he had quite a crowd. Needless to say, I did not realize the monumental occasion I had the privilege to be a part of during my short time at the festival, but looking back, I've come to a realization: almost to a person, the attendees at the event were slightly old.

"Slightly" is probably not the most descriptive adjective to use to describe the age of the participants, but it could be the kindest, so let's run with it. I noticed a few children, but by and large, most attendees at the event could have passed for somebody's grandparents.

Is this merely a sign that the fans are growing older along with the stars they've cherished for years, or a bigger, more threatening shift for Bluegrass music? With the original guard dwindling in size, will those interested in the genre decrease proportionally?

Roy Chapman, Pike County, has played for almost 40 years

I'd like to think this won't be the case, that new fans will continue to surface everyday. And maybe they will; two of the people I met at the fair, the men who roadtripped 16-hours from Connecticut to see Scruggs play, were definitely some of the youngest in the crowd. Personally, the music is growing on me and I wouldn't be surprised to find myself at a Bluegrass festival or two in the near future.

Nationally--and realistically--though, I think the hill facing those trying to promote Bluegrass music only continues to steepen. At the time it was created, it was obviously a new sound, promoted amongst fans already accustomed to country music but ready for a new twist. Today, as depressing as it may be, the speed and expertise of a skilled banjo or mandolin player just doesn't grab the attention of most young people they way a synthesizer and teen-angst lyrics can.

Not too many children took in the Doug Dillard concert

Bluegrass has never truly competed with pop or rock music for the majority of American listeners, and I don't think it was created with that intention in mind. However, through my limited research into the genre, I've learned that the people who gravitate to the music are what make it special.

With many of the genre stalwarts passing on though, will the remaining members of Bluegrass be able to attract and cultivate the following and culture that make the current combination of banjo, mandolin and guitar so special?

Thanks for your continued support of and comments about my column. Tomorrow we'll take a look at some of the recent response I've received concerning the bucket list.