Monroe Family History

Recorded in 1969 for an event at the Smithsonian, this interview excerpt features Bill Monroe, along with his brothers, Charlie and Birch, being interviewed by Mike Seeger, and an unidentified man.

The clip begins with Charlie’s description of the brothers’ early instruction in shape note singing, and ends with the three singing two gospel numbers — “He Will Set Your Fields On Fire” and “I Know My Lord’s Gonna Lead Me Out”. Birch is on bass, Charlie on lead. Bill’s tenor, of course, is unmistakable.