“Bugle Call Rag” was written by Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers and Elmer Schoebel, and its hook is based on the “Assembly” bugle call. The New Orleans Rhythm Kings made the first recording on 29 August 1922 in Richmond, Indiana, for Gennett. The first 78 (Gennett 4967) was labeled “Bugle Call Blues,” but the tune was copyrighted, and the sheet music published, as “Bugle Call Rag.” Henry “Red” Allen recorded it in 1932, and it spread widely in the swing era through the orchestras of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Duke Ellington’s band reworked it as “The Sergeant Was Shy.”
Bluegrass bands were playing it by 1960. Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys recorded it in Nashville on 9 September 1960, with Paul Warren on fiddle. Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys followed on 4 December 1961 at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio, with Tony Ellis on banjo; Decca issued that version on Bluegrass Ramble in June 1962. Tony Rice recorded it for his 1975 Rebel album California Autumn, with Ricky Skaggs on fiddle, Ben Eldridge on banjo and Larry Rice on mandolin. The Bluegrass Discography lists well over a hundred bluegrass-related albums with a track of that name.
