Excerpts

Concerning Bill Monroe:

He was one of a kind, an original American poet of the rural south who wrote songs, many of which were autobiographical, and he left us with a great gift bluegrass music, which is nothing more nor less than an audible expression of his personality.

Concerning Bean Blossom jam sessions:

In the same jam session you may find folks who have very few common interests except for the music they are playing at that moment, but that common interest draws them together in a camaraderie that is marvelous to behold.

Concerning Bean Blossom:

The natural setting of the stage makes it one of the prettiest sites in the world for an outdoor bluegrass festival. Bean Blossom is to bluegrass music what the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry are to country music. It is a place where all bluegrass fans would like to visit at least once in their lifetime a sort of bluegrass Mecca.

Concerning Bill Monroe and his mandolin:

Often, when he was off stage and not playing any particular song, the music that flowed from his fingers and that instrument was simply an audible expression of what he was experiencing at the time.

Concerning visitors to Bean Blossom bluegrass festivals:

Some of the countries represented have included England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Holland, and Japan. The visitors from Japan have outnumbered all the rest, and many talented bluegrass musicians from that country have played on the Bean Blossom stage.

Concerning Bill Monroe planting potatoes:

Bill was instructing Shorty about what position the eye of the potato should be in when placed in the ground. Do you know what you do with the seed potatoes that are left over after planting? Bill asked Shorty. Shorty didnt know. You fry them for breakfast Bill told him.