A question last night from a good friend reminded me that I need to read Mark Hembree’s 2022 book On the Bus: My Five-Year Ride with the Father of Blue Grass.
Hembree played bass for Bill Monroe from 1979 to 1984. He was also a founding member of The Nashville Bluegrass Band. Since I haven’t read it, I can’t say if it’s good or not. I’m going to read it for sure. Soon!
When I do read the book, I’ll write a review and post it. I recall that back in ‘03, for my Bluegrass Connections column, I read and reviewed Richard Smith’s Can’t You Hear Me Callin’: The Life and Times of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass.
Perhaps what I remember most is how one former Bluegrass Boy, a friend of mine, disagreed with my assessment of Smith’s book. Apparently, Smith was loose with the facts, something only those close to Monroe would know.
Anyway, I still appreciate the book for its portrayal of Bill Monroe as human, flawed and imperfect as we all are. Monroe’s vice, if he had any, was women.
As for Mark Hembree’s book, we shall see. I’m looking forward to reading it, particularly for any insight into Monroe’s 1980 heart attack and how Monroe was taken by ambulance to play a show and then by ambulance back to the hospital.
As far as I know, I’ve read every other book about Monroe, and there are quite a few. Obviously, some are better than others. Seems that might be an appropriate subject to blog about in the future—a rundown of books about Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass.
Let’s look forward to that!