Interview with Bill Emerson, May 8, 2006
Project: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Bill Emerson talks about his early exposure to bluegrass music and his interest in the banjo. He discusses his career, from playing on the radio with Uncle Bob and the Blue Ridge Partners, to playing with Buzz Busby, creating the Country Gentlemen, playing with Jimmy Martin, forming Emerson & Waldron, returning to the Country Gentlemen, joining the U.S. Navy band Country Current, and his current project the Sweet Dixie Band. He talks about the lessons he learned while working for and with other musicians, especially about having a unique sound and identity as a band. Emerson describes the business side of music, owning Webco Records, teaching students to play the banjo, and the most influential banjo players in bluegrass. He gives his opinions on the future of bluegrass.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Radio programs. Radio stations. Washington (D.C.) Martin, Jimmy (Artist) Jimmy Martin (Artist) Emerson & Waldron (Artist) The Country Gentlemen (Artist) Country Gentlemen, the (Artist) Busby, Buzz (Artist) Buzz Busby (Artist) Banjo players Banjos Songwriting United States. Navy. Country music. Country Current (Artist) Sweet Dixie Band (Artist) Webco RecordsInterview LC Subject
Bands (Music) Banjo music (Bluegrass) Bluegrass musicians Musical ability. Musical groups. Musicians Musical performance Music--Performance. Sound recordings. Sound studios Sound--Recording and reproducing Songs. Records. Popular music--Writing and publishing. Lyric writing (Popular music) Music business Bluegrass musicInterview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
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All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Emerson, Bill Interview by George McCeney. 08 May. 2006. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Emerson, B. (2006, May 08). Interview by G. McCeney. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Emerson, Bill, interview by George McCeney. May 08, 2006, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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