More on Horace and my lack of bluegrass knowledge - 7.24.07
For those that haven't met me, I'm not from here. The south is something new to me. I lived most of my life in New Jersey. So there are several things that northerners know nothing about: sweet tea, BBQ, Sonic to name a few. We also know nothing about bluegrass music.
So since my move to North Carolina about three years ago, I've been called on a few times to write about bluegrass musicians.
Here was my first attempt working for the Lenoir News-Topic almost two years ago: A story about Carl Story, who played for the Lonesome Mountaineers.
My second attempt was writing about Horace Scruggs, brother of Earl Scruggs. This morning I got an e-mail from Dr. Bobby Jones, who played with Horace in the FlintHill Band. He shared the following story:
Jeremy Leatherwood, left, is shown here with Horace Scruggs and a new Gibson guitar that was sent to Scruggs by Gibson on his birthday. The photo was contributed to The Star by Steve Leatherwood.
So since my move to North Carolina about three years ago, I've been called on a few times to write about bluegrass musicians.
Here was my first attempt working for the Lenoir News-Topic almost two years ago: A story about Carl Story, who played for the Lonesome Mountaineers.
My second attempt was writing about Horace Scruggs, brother of Earl Scruggs. This morning I got an e-mail from Dr. Bobby Jones, who played with Horace in the FlintHill Band. He shared the following story:
Horace was not only an incredibly accurate rhythm
guitarist, but an all around good guy. Growing up on
the farm, he and his brothers became quite ingenious
at survival skills. Horace seemed to know how to do a
little of everything. He built his own home, he could
do auto work, he refinished furniture and worked on
grandfather clocks. Back in the days you could get
dynamite at the hardware store, he used it to blow the
large holes in the ground needed to set out pecan
trees. Man, I'd end up blowing up my house!
Here is a story about Horace I thought you might
enjoy. Years ago, I was working in the office one
day, and it was a real barn burner- sick folks
everywhere. My wife had a new stove, and called to
say it wasn't working right. I couldn't leave (and
wouldn't know how to fix it anyway) and gave her a
couple of names to call. When I got home, she was
cooking away, and I asked her what happened.
Turns out Horace was in the office that day, and
overheard the conversation. He brought his tools and
fixed it right up, and never said a word about it.
(Even his family didn't know all these years later.)
That was the kind of guy he was, always getting things
done is his own quiet way. We once did a Sally Goodin
take-off, and a truer catch phrase was never coined-
As the song, and your article, says, "Horace is a
Good'un."
guitarist, but an all around good guy. Growing up on
the farm, he and his brothers became quite ingenious
at survival skills. Horace seemed to know how to do a
little of everything. He built his own home, he could
do auto work, he refinished furniture and worked on
grandfather clocks. Back in the days you could get
dynamite at the hardware store, he used it to blow the
large holes in the ground needed to set out pecan
trees. Man, I'd end up blowing up my house!
Here is a story about Horace I thought you might
enjoy. Years ago, I was working in the office one
day, and it was a real barn burner- sick folks
everywhere. My wife had a new stove, and called to
say it wasn't working right. I couldn't leave (and
wouldn't know how to fix it anyway) and gave her a
couple of names to call. When I got home, she was
cooking away, and I asked her what happened.
Turns out Horace was in the office that day, and
overheard the conversation. He brought his tools and
fixed it right up, and never said a word about it.
(Even his family didn't know all these years later.)
That was the kind of guy he was, always getting things
done is his own quiet way. We once did a Sally Goodin
take-off, and a truer catch phrase was never coined-
As the song, and your article, says, "Horace is a
Good'un."
Jeremy Leatherwood, left, is shown here with Horace Scruggs and a new Gibson guitar that was sent to Scruggs by Gibson on his birthday. The photo was contributed to The Star by Steve Leatherwood.
posted by Pete DeLea at
9:58 AM
2 Comments:
Horace stood to my immediate left and played his guitar, for over 20 years, and in 3 different bands. He taught me a lot about music, and a lot more. He was a very kind man, a great mentor and a good friend. I will miss him.
I will miss Horace he was a true gentleman and a bluegrass pioneer, i have and will always miss picking with Horace the music that he loved so dearly in the band that we named after his home place FlintHill.
rest in peace my dear friend for we will meet again soon!!!!
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