Happy birthday, Mr Scruggs

Thanks to our friend Erio Meili of the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association (SPBMA) in Brazil for a timely reminder that this is the 87th birthday of Earl Eugene Scruggs, Father of Bluegrass Banjo. The SPBMA's own tribute can be seen here.

The photos shown here are taken from the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival website, and show Earl during the 2004 Festival, when he made his first trip to Europe for about thirty years. The photo below shows Earl seated with his late wife Louise; standing behind are the Festival organisers, Kathy Casey (left) and Chris Keenan.