Country Music Pioneer. He was the older brother of Bill Monroe, the "Father of Bluegrass Music". Charlie and Bill started their careers at WLS in Chicago as members of a dance group. They became a musical duo, with Charlie playing guitar and Bill on mandolin. They had musical programs on radio stations WJKS in Gary, Indiana, WAAW in Ohmaha, Nebraska, WBT in Charlotte, N.C. and WFNC in Greenville, N.C. On February 17, 1936 they did their first recordings. The songs included "My Long Journey Home", Nine Pound Hammer", "The New River Train" and the "Old Cross Roads". Their first release was "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul" and "This World Is Not My Home". They recorded additional sides for the Bluebird label. Their style with Charlie playing bass runs and rhytmn fills and Bill adding fiery single note lines and tremolo double-stops laid the foundation for bluegrass music for which Bill was later credited. Charlie and Bill broke up in 1938 over a dispute about management. As they were becoming increasingly popular, Charlie wanted to have his wife, Betty, manage them. Bill opposed the idea and Charlie left. He went on to form the group Charlie Monroe and the Kentucky Partners. He made records for Decca and Bluebird. Charlie died of cancer at Charlton Haney's Camp Springs Music Park in Reidsville, North Carolina.
Country Music Pioneer. He was the older brother of Bill Monroe, the "Father of Bluegrass Music". Charlie and Bill started their careers at WLS in Chicago as members of a dance group. They became a musical duo, with Charlie playing guitar and Bill on mandolin. They had musical programs on radio stations WJKS in Gary, Indiana, WAAW in Ohmaha, Nebraska, WBT in Charlotte, N.C. and WFNC in Greenville, N.C. On February 17, 1936 they did their first recordings. The songs included "My Long Journey Home", Nine Pound Hammer", "The New River Train" and the "Old Cross Roads". Their first release was "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul" and "This World Is Not My Home". They recorded additional sides for the Bluebird label. Their style with Charlie playing bass runs and rhytmn fills and Bill adding fiery single note lines and tremolo double-stops laid the foundation for bluegrass music for which Bill was later credited. Charlie and Bill broke up in 1938 over a dispute about management. As they were becoming increasingly popular, Charlie wanted to have his wife, Betty, manage them. Bill opposed the idea and Charlie left. He went on to form the group Charlie Monroe and the Kentucky Partners. He made records for Decca and Bluebird. Charlie died of cancer at Charlton Haney's Camp Springs Music Park in Reidsville, North Carolina.
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