Quote from bobg:
Got to remember that Houston had a much wider audience than Scruggs did. Houston's life style may not have been a great one but she was very talented. For many people Bluegrass music is an "acquired" taste. Also very little real Bluegrass is played on regular radio stations, you have to go to specialty stations through satellite, etc. so the general population gets little exposure to it.
GuzziJohn
Very true Guzz!I played country and pop music for many years. In Bands and as a DJ back in the late 60's thru mid 70's.Some of the great BG stars were doing country music back then to make a living.Bluegrass didn't play well on the Jute Box. There were some like the Osborne bro's , and their signature song (Rocky Top) that broke the barrier's. I was fascinated by the speed and harmony's of it.Always loved the Scruggs Banjo style.and my favorite today is Jim Mills. He was with Skagg's Kentucky Thunder band. Check him out on You tube, if you crave some good 5 string. J D Crowe and Joe Mullins are a couple of other's that come to mind. Yep! Old Earl really started something.
Bluegrass will never be mainstream music, but those of us that love it,listen and play it, don't give a hoot
My heart goes out to his family, and to W. Houston's as well.She might have had a drug problem, but she was a huge talent and some mothers child.