http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4202&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rssAs a legendary bandleader, Singer-Songwriter, and an innovative instrumentalist, Bill Monroe is as important to the development of modern country music as Muddy Waters is to the development of rock. He was one of the first to popularize the Bluegrass band paradigm of guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle mandolin, and banjo. Beginning his recording career in 1936, Monroe was a demanding bandleader, who sought out (and was sought out by) the best, most innovative players. Monroe was known for his dazzlingly fast lead mandolin breaks and his bands set a standard for playing, operating much like a small jazz combo; all of the players took plentiful turns soloing between verses and choruses. With banjo legend Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt's high lonesome vocals (the best known assemblage), Monroe had a number of hit recordings throughout the '40s and '50s, most notably "Footprints in the Snow" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Elvis Presley recorded the latter for Sun Records in 1954. The sound of Monroe's tight, hard-driving band directly influenced the development of Rockabilly (and by extension, Honky-Tonk music). Monroe recorded extensively right up to his death in 1996. He is the subject of many tribute recordings. - Eric SheaBluegrassen720Thu, 7 Jan 2010 16:22:36 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4202&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss As a legendary bandleader, Singer-Songwriter, and an innovative instrumentalist, Bill Monroe is as important to the development of modern country music as Muddy Waters is to the development of rock. He was one of the first to popularize the Bluegrass band paradigm of guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle mandolin, and banjo. Beginning his recording career in 1936, Monroe was a demanding bandleader, who sought out (and was sought out by) the best, most innovative players. Monroe was known for his dazzlingly fast lead mandolin breaks and his bands set a standard for playing, operating much like a small jazz combo; all of the players took plentiful turns soloing between verses and choruses. With banjo legend Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt's high lonesome vocals (the best known assemblage), Monroe had a number of hit recordings throughout the '40s and '50s, most notably "Footprints in the Snow" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Elvis Presley recorded the latter for Sun Records in 1954. The sound of Monroe's tight, hard-driving band directly influenced the development of Rockabilly (and by extension, Honky-Tonk music). Monroe recorded extensively right up to his death in 1996. He is the subject of many tribute recordings. - Eric Shea http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.12251820&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Wed, 9 Dec 2009 07:24:18 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 12251820 tra.12251820 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.0 Historic County and Western alb.12249449 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/7/0/930786_170x170.jpg 2006-11-20 00:00:00.0 null false Blue moon of Kentucky tra.12251820 185000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.12251820&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.12251820&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2859617&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Mon, 1 Jan 1973 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 2859617 tra.2859617 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bean Blossom alb.201536 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/8/7/0/1080785_170x170.jpg 1989-09-26 00:00:00.0 1973-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Orange Blossom Special tra.2859617 147000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2859617&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2859617&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971895&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Country-Folk/Bluegrass Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 971895 tra.971895 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 The Essential Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys 1945-1949 alb.133381 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/4/3/1303467_170x170.jpg 1992-10-20 00:00:00.0 1992-10-06 00:00:00.0 true Kentucky Waltz tra.971895 164000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971895&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971895&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1740123&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 27 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 1740123 tra.1740123 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Super Hits alb.120859 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/0/8/4/1334807_170x170.jpg 1996-08-27 00:00:00.0 1996-08-27 00:00:00.0 true Blue Moon Of Kentucky tra.1740123 185000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1740123&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1740123&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590731&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 22 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 3590731 tra.3590731 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Anthology alb.272890 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/9/4/8/1078495_170x170.jpg 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 true Walking In Jerusalem Just Like John tra.3590731 118000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590731&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590731&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282332&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 17282332 tra.17282332 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Breakdown alb.17273903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/2/9/1149234_170x170.jpg 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 true I've Lived A Lot In My Time tra.17282332 118000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282332&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282332&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590751&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 22 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 3590751 tra.3590751 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Anthology alb.272890 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/9/4/8/1078495_170x170.jpg 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 true Molly & Tenbrooks tra.3590751 140000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590751&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590751&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590725&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 22 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 3590725 tra.3590725 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Anthology alb.272890 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/9/4/8/1078495_170x170.jpg 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 2003-04-22 00:00:00.0 true In The Pines tra.3590725 190000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590725&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3590725&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733782&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Sun, 1 Jan 1989 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 2733782 tra.2733782 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Live At The Opry alb.260296 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/8/8/1078825_170x170.jpg 1998-02-03 00:00:00.0 1989-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Theme tra.2733782 37000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733782&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733782&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11295275&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 11295275 tra.11295275 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Classic Southern Gospel From Smithsonian Folkways alb.11290731 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/2/5/1335283_170x170.jpg 2006-08-01 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? tra.11295275 271000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11295275&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11295275&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24288399&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 15 Oct 1996 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 24288399 tra.24288399 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 True Life Blues: The Songs Of Bill Monroe alb.24284650 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/3/4/3/1523430_170x170.jpg 1996-10-15 00:00:00.0 1996-10-15 00:00:00.0 true I'm On My Way Back To The Old Home tra.24288399 130000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24288399&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24288399&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16274779&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 10 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 16274779 tra.16274779 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 All The Classic Releases 1937 - 1949 alb.16271780 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/4/7/1327444_170x170.jpg 2005-07-19 00:00:00.0 2003-06-10 00:00:00.0 true Watermelon Hanging On The Vine tra.16274779 133000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16274779&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16274779&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.405845&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 12 Oct 1999 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 405845 tra.405845 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Country: The American Tradition alb.107477 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/0/4/1814013_170x170.jpg 1999-10-12 00:00:00.0 1999-10-12 00:00:00.0 true Blue Moon Of Kentucky tra.405845 183000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.405845&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.405845&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.458884&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 11 May 1999 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 458884 tra.458884 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Live From Mountain Stage alb.109977 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/8/1/171817_170x170.jpg 1999-05-11 00:00:00.0 1999-05-11 00:00:00.0 true My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin' tra.458884 235000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.458884&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.458884&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971865&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 971865 tra.971865 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 The Essential Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys 1945-1949 alb.133381 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/4/3/1303467_170x170.jpg 1992-10-20 00:00:00.0 1992-10-06 00:00:00.0 true Footprints In The Snow tra.971865 159000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971865&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971865&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971903&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 971903 tra.971903 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 The Essential Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys 1945-1949 alb.133381 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/4/3/1303467_170x170.jpg 1992-10-20 00:00:00.0 1992-10-06 00:00:00.0 true Summertime Is Past And Gone tra.971903 175000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971903&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.971903&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934181&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 29934181 tra.29934181 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bill Monroe CD A: 1950-1951 alb.29923903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/0/9/9/1789902_170x170.jpg 2009-08-18 00:00:00.0 2009-08-18 00:00:00.0 true Alabama Waltz tra.29934181 145000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934181&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934181&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934189&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 29934189 tra.29934189 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bill Monroe CD A: 1950-1951 alb.29923903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/0/9/9/1789902_170x170.jpg 2009-08-18 00:00:00.0 2009-08-18 00:00:00.0 true River Of Death tra.29934189 162000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934189&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29934189&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29361652&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:25:34 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 29361652 tra.29361652 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Essentials & American Folk Classics alb.29350042 2009-05-15 00:00:00.0 null true Uncle Penn tra.29361652 151000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29361652&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.29361652&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733781&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Sun, 1 Jan 1989 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 2733781 tra.2733781 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Live At The Opry alb.260296 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/8/8/1078825_170x170.jpg 1998-02-03 00:00:00.0 1989-01-01 00:00:00.0 true I'm Working On A Building tra.2733781 174000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733781&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2733781&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282334&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 17282334 tra.17282334 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Breakdown alb.17273903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/2/9/1149234_170x170.jpg 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 true Footprint In The Snow tra.17282334 149000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282334&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282334&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282335&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 17282335 tra.17282335 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Breakdown alb.17273903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/2/9/1149234_170x170.jpg 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 true The Old Old House tra.17282335 172000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282335&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282335&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282324&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 17282324 tra.17282324 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Bluegrass Breakdown alb.17273903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/2/9/1149234_170x170.jpg 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 2006-11-29 00:00:00.0 true Uncle Pen tra.17282324 137000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282324&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17282324&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28310945&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Fri, 22 May 2009 12:45:09 -0700 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 28310945 tra.28310945 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Country Classics - 26 Original Hits alb.28301560 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/7/4/3/1673476_170x170.jpg 2009-05-05 00:00:00.0 null true Blue Moon of Kentucky tra.28310945 181000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28310945&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28310945&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10270341&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bluegrass Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bill Monroe on Rhapsody Online 10270341 tra.10270341 Bill Monroe art.4202 0.99 Nine Pound Hammer alb.10268799 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/1/3/4/1324311_170x170.jpg 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 true Shady Grove tra.10270341 127000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10270341&variant=play&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10270341&variant=data&rws=%2Fbill-monroe%2Ftop-tracks.rss