Charlie Monroe

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlie Monroe (right) with brother Bill in 1936

Charles "Charlie" Monroe (born June 4, 1903 in Rosine , Kentucky , † September 27, 1975 ) was an American country singer . He was the brother of the famous Bill Monroe , the "Father of Bluegrass".

Life

Childhood and youth

Charlie Monroe was born in Rosine, he was the older brother of Bill Monroe and the younger brother of Byrch Monroe. As a child, Charlie learned to play the fiddle from his parents, who were both very musical . The children often helped their parents on their farm. In order to support the family and their other siblings, Bill, Charlie and Birch moved to Indiana , where they worked in an oil refinery. In 1927 they first appeared on a radio station in Gary, Indiana. Her father, Buchanan Monroe, who was in poor health at the time, rode a horse from Kentucky to Indiana to see his sons' debut. Shortly afterwards, not only he died, but also his wife Melissa.

Career

There's No Depression In Heaven , Charlie Monroe's Kentucky Boys

After their parents passed away, Byrch Monroe left the trio, but Bill and Charlie continued to perform in public. In 1936 the two got a record deal with RCA Records . It was there that Charlie's professional music career began. As the Monroe Brothers they enjoyed great success until 1939. After that, the two headstrong brothers separated. Charlie's recording contract was extended with RCA so that he could continue to release records. With his backing band, the Kentucky Partners , he had a few hits until the early 1950s. One of his best known pieces is Mother's Not Dead, Only A-Sleepin ' , which was also recorded by his brother Bill. In the 1960s, Monroe recorded an album together with his brother. Ramblin 'Tommy Scott and Lester Flatt played in his band . He performed well into old age at KWKH Louisiana Hayride and Brown County Jamboree . In 1943 he and his wife Elizabeth Monroe (born Miller), whom he married in 1939, bought a farm in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, where he lived until his death. He had built the house in which they lived himself.

Charlie Monroe was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

Title (selection)

  • Mother's Not Dead, Only Sleepin '
  • That Wild Black Engine
  • Good morning to you
  • Neath a Cold Gray Tomb of Stone
  • Who's Callin 'You Sweetheart Tonight?
  • Grave at the Foot of the Mountain
  • When I'm gone

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Monroe, Charlie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Monroe, Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country singer
DATE OF BIRTH June 4, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Raisin , Kentucky
DATE OF DEATH September 27, 1975