Joe Stuart
Musician · Tennessee
Best known for
Guitar
Joe Stuart was a Tennessee multi-instrumentalist who served four separate stints with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys across two decades and is the only person to record with Monroe on four different instruments — the consummate first-call sideman of postwar bluegrass.
- Born February 7, 1928; died September 13, 1987.
- Multi-instrumentalist who played fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, and mandolin.
- First professional work was on Cas Walker's radio show in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Played with the Sauceman Brothers in the late 1940s and with Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs's Foggy Mountain Boys in 1953.
- Served four separate stints with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys: 1955–1957, 1962–1963, August–November 1963, and 1970–1973.
- The only person to record with Bill Monroe on four different instruments as a Blue Grass Boy.
- Often Monroe's preferred sideman for out-of-town shows; the two would travel together and perform with pickup bands of local musicians.
- Continued recording sessions as late as October 1976; per his last wish, Bill Monroe sang all 25 verses of "John Henry" at his funeral.
-
Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass BoysPlayed on recordings with Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys
-
Kenny BakerPlayed on recordings with Kenny Baker
-
Jim and Jesse and the Virginia BoysPlayed on recordings with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
-
Benny MartinPlayed on recording with Benny Martin
-
Bill Grant and Delia BellPlayed on recording with Bill Grant and Delia Bell