Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Celebrates Earl Scruggs‘ Legacy at Festival, Highlightingโ Enduring Impact of ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’
WILSON, โNC – The Nittyโ Gritty Dirt Band closed out the recent festival with a moving tribute to Earl โคScruggs and their โlandmark 1972 album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, reaffirming the โคbanjo legend’s profound influenceโ on โbluegrass, country, and generations of musicians. The performance underscored Scruggs’ role not just as โa virtuoso instrumentalist,โ but as โa unifying force who bridged musical genres and fostered connection during turbulent times.
The festival tribute arrives as โขScruggs’ legacy continues to resonate with contemporaryโฃ artists, who cite his openness and innovative โspirit โคas foundational to their own work. will the Circle Be Unbroken remains a pivotal recording, celebrated for its groundbreaking collaboration between bluegrass pioneers and a younger generation of musicians,โฃ and its enduring message of finding common ground. The album’s impact extends beyond musical circles, speaking to a universal desire for unity.
“He inspired me to have an open mind,” musician Sam Bush shared. “To be open to all kinds of music and all kinds of people.”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s performance featured an all-star โขlineup,with Sierra Hull embodying Mother Maybelle โขCarter,Shawn Camp channeling jimmy Martin,Rob โฃMcCoury portraying Earl Scruggs,Bushโ interpreting Roy Acuff,and Jerry Douglas representing Normanโ blake. They performed selections includingโข “grandโค Oleโ Opry Song,” with Camp singing lines referencing Scruggs and Bill Monroe.
Sierra Hull โคemphasized Scruggs’ influence on artistic โauthenticity. “We can play [bluegrass], we can honor it, but I also just try โคto do what I do, andโฃ try toโ be me,”โค she said. “Andโค try to let that partโค of myself shine through,without โขfeeling like I’ve got to be something else,because that’s what [Earl] did. That’s โฃwhy Iโข love [this music] โsoโข much.”
Jeff hanna โคof the nitty Gritty Dirtโ Band reflected on Scruggs’ character and โlasting contribution.”Earl was a hero of ours way โbefore we met him. His virtuosity and โฃinnovation was incredibly inspiring to us as budding musicians,” Hanna stated. “He was always so supportive and encouraging, confident, but never arrogant.โข He left a huge, beautiful legacy.”