Come Hither to Go Yonder: Playing Bluegrass with Bill Monroe

Bob Black

May 2005 · University of Illinois Press

About this ebook

Bob Black was a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in the 1970s. Black's memoir of his time with the man he called the Chief offers the unique vantage point of a man who traveled and performed extensively with the Father of Bluegrass at a time when the music had opened up to new audiences--and Monroe had become a living legend.

Both role model and taskmaster, Monroe exerted a profound influence on Black and the musicians who have carried on the bluegrass tradition. In addition to Black's one-of-a-kind story, Come Hither to Go Yonder includes complete listing of Black's appearances with Monroe, recollections of the memorable experiences they shared while working together, descriptions of other important musicians and bands, and suggestions for further reading and listening.

Offering a rare perspective on the creative forces that drove one of America's greatest composers and musical innovators, Come Hither to Go Yonder rewards fans of Bill Monroe and bluegrass while offering an insider's view of a crucial time in the music's history.

About the author

Bob Black played banjo as one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and recorded with him on the Weary Traveler album. Black later played for several years with Buck White and the Down Home Folks. He appears on a number of fiddle albums by Kenny Baker and has performed with Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Stuart, Frank Wakefield, John Hartford, the Whites, and other artists. In 2002, he received the Iowa Arts Council's Traditional Arts Award. Neil V. Rosenberg is the professor emeritus of folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His books include Bluegrass Generation: A Memoir and Bluegrass: A History.