Grandfather Of Bluegrass, Wade Mainer, Passes Away At Age 104

Wade Mainer

WADE MAINER, who is known as the “Grandfather of Bluegrass,” passed away MONDAY (9/12) at his FLINT, MI home. He was 104.

MAINER was best known for his banjo playing and for preserving traditional SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN music, while helping to shape contemporary Bluegrass.

"WADE MAINER's influence is far-reaching,” said MAINER’s friend and musician DAVID HOLT. “DOC WATSON, BILL MONROE and RALPH STANLEY all have said that after hearing WADE, it changed their music.”

MAINER is credited with inventing the two-finger banjo picking style that led the way for the Bluegrass era. He recorded for several labels in the 1930s, moving to the FLINT area in the 1950s.

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