BILL KEITH - MASTER OF THE MELODIC BANJO

Kenny Baker heard Bill Keith playing back stage at the Ryman and told Bill Monroe about him. Bill said it wasn't "their kind of music," but Kenny prevailed and Bill Keith became a Bluegrass Boy.  They proceeded to record several of Keith's tunes including, "Sailor's Hornpipe."  Melodic banjo players play ALL the notes in every song, while that is not strictly true in general Scruggs Style banjo.

The IBMA has just released the following:

Many consider the great Bill Keith to be second only to Earl Scruggs himself when it came to banjo picking.
The IBMA welcomed Mr. Keith into its Hall of Fame on October 1, 2015, during its annual Awards Show ceremony in Raleigh, North Carolina. Though he was unwell at the time, he was able to appear in person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on that special night, where he made a stirring speech of gratitude for his life and career in music. Bill Keith died on October 23, 2015.