Almost all of the material used to construct this book was derived from seventy-one interviews we conducted. Our purpose is to present an oral history of Earl Scruggs’s life and musical influence from the collective memories of the family, friends, acquaintances, and musicians/entertainers inspired by him. This is our way of ensuring that Earl’s legacy is depicted with a freshness that’s personable and conversational. Interviewee contributions appear in direct quotes.
Our use of existing quotations from Earl and Louise Scruggs were granted to us by the copyright owners. We wanted to include their voices, as they are relevant to the content of this book. All of the preexisting interview material is clearly identified.
Research for Earl’s Gibson banjos was supplied by Jim Mills and used by permission of Jim Mills Banjo Inc. The balance of contributory material not provided by our primary sources but crucial to the continuity of the story is either identified in the text or listed in the notes at the end of the book.