Curtis McPeake
Musician · 1927–2021 · Scotts Hill, Tennessee
Best known for
Banjo
Curtis McPeake was a Tennessee-born banjoist whose Earl Scruggs substitute role with Lester Flatt, three-year tenure with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1960–1962), staff seat at WSM Radio, and only-banjo-player role in the Grand Ole Opry house band placed him at the center of Nashville bluegrass for half a century — a 2018 IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award honoree.
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- Born William Curtis McPeake, October 9, 1927 in Scotts Hill, west Tennessee.
- Took up the five-string banjo at age 18 after hearing Earl Scruggs.
- Hired by Lester Flatt in 1956 to substitute for Scruggs after Scruggs's October 1955 auto accident, and filled in for him at various points through 1968.
- Recorded and toured with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys in 1960, 1961, and 1962, appearing on five sessions and 18 cuts including tracks from "Mr. Blue Grass" and "Bluegrass Ramble."
- Became the first staff banjo player at WSM Radio (Nashville) and later the only banjo player ever in the Grand Ole Opry house band.
- Toured globally for 18 years (1969–1987) with Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass; in-demand session musician on records by George Jones, Melba Montgomery, and others.
- Invented a 10-string (six-pair) banjo in 1966 and later founded McPeake's Unique Instruments in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; became a leading expert on pre-war Gibson banjos.
- Received the Uncle Dave Macon Days Trailblazer Award (2010) and the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award (2018); died February 20, 2021 at age 93.
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Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass BoysPlayed on recordings with Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys
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George Jones and Melba MontgomeryPlayed on recording with George Jones and Melba Montgomery
