[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              EARL SCRUGGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, the Master from Flint Hill, the Innovator 
of the Three-Finger Banjo Style--these are the names given to one of 
North Carolina's and my congressional district's favorite sons.
  Mr. Speaker, the welcome sign for the city of Shelby in my district 
says: ``Welcome to Shelby, city of pleasant living, home of Earl 
Scruggs.''
  Indeed, Shelby, Cleveland County, and all of North Carolina, and 
indeed the Nation, are mourning the loss of musical icon Earl Scruggs, 
who passed away last month at the age of 88. When you think of the word 
``bluegrass,'' a few names come to mind: Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, and, 
of course, Earl Scruggs.
  Earl grew up on a farm in the Flint Hill community in Shelby and 
worked in the Lily cotton mill. That's until he was given the chance to 
play in Bill Monroe's band. That led him to quickly strike off on his 
legendary career with Lester Flatt. Together, Flatt and Scruggs defined 
bluegrass music in the 1950s and the 1960s, recording such classics as 
``The Ballad of Jed Clampett'' and ``Foggy Mountain Breakdown.''
  Earl received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003, was 
inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985, and received 
numerous Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. He also 
recorded with musicians as diverse as Johnny Cash, Sting, and even 
Elton John.
  Most importantly for his beloved hometown of Shelby, his legend will 
live on locally.

                              {time}  1050

  Thanks to an overwhelming community effort for the past several 
years, work is now under way to turn the historic 105-year-old 
Cleveland County Courthouse into the Earl Scruggs Center. This effort 
will focus on music and stories and preserve the legacy of Earl 
Scruggs.
  Drawing on the region's rich history and music, the Scruggs Center 
will enlighten, educate, and celebrate the people, traditions, and 
values of Cleveland County and the region, for that matter, all the 
while honoring Earl Scruggs.
  Legendary comedian and accomplished banjo player Steve Martin summed 
up Earl's legacy best when he said, ``Before him, no one had ever 
played the banjo like he did. After him, everybody played the banjo 
like he did, or at least tried.''
  Imitation is the kindest form of flattery, and, indeed, Earl Scruggs 
has many folks that try to emulate what he created. He will be missed.

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