“Happy Birthday to the Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe, born September 13, 1911. With the help of Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise, and Howard Watts, there was a new sound of music created. These innovators went on to have careers apart from Mr. Monroe, but he kept this new music alive until he passed away in 1996. He survived Rock and Roll in the 50s and Country Music in the 60s. He also survived Nashville. It took a tough man to survive all the criticism he received playing a tiny instrument like a mandolin. He once told me when I was a kid, ‘boy, you gotta whip this thing like a mule.’ Well I had no mule whipping experience, but I kinda understood what he meant. I saw a picture many years ago of Mr. Monroe holding his whole band on his shoulders. He truly was a Hoss! Thank you Mr. Bill for being the strong musician and band leader that you were, even when times were tough and you could only afford to have yourself and two others in the band. It’s because of you and your tremendous playing and singing that I do what I do every time I walk on stage. Thinking of you today.” -Ricky Skaggs