When I began reading my new copy of Earl Scruggs, Banjo Icon, I was so engrossed I couldn't put it down. This biography of our beloved banjo guru will take you back as if you're there every step of the way, growing up as part of Earl's family, sharing in the music, the simple farm life that was his home in his early years, and the various steps that took him to the forefront of the bluegrass world.... [A]fter reading this book, you'll feel like you knew [Scruggs] his entire life

This is an insightful tribute to the man who put the banjo in bluegrass. Taken from many oral histories or first-hand accounts of folks who knew Scruggs, we get a rather detailed look into his life from the time he was a child right up to the time of his death. With a foreword by Bela Fleck setting the stage, we hear from a who's who of modern banjo players of all ages. The authors have even extrapolated the influence that Scruggs had upon succeeding generations by including interviews with so many young players who felt his influence first-hand and through his many recordings and appearances.... This book is essential for all fans of bluegrass banjo, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Earl Scruggs Revue or even The Beverly Hillbillies.... [It presents] a solid representation of the man behind the music

Earl Scruggs: Banjo Icon by Gordon Castelnero and David L. Russell uses an oral history approach to produce a volume both scholarly and readable. With the full cooperation of the Scruggs family, they conducted 72 interviews with family members, musicians, recording industry people, and Earl Scruggs' many friends and admirers to create a well-rounded account filled with lots of previously unpublished information while never losing the human touch, always keeping the subject matter interesting and real