3 Bluegrass Icons of the 20th Century and Their Modern-Day Counterparts

Bluegrass is a genre founded on tradition. That being so, it is no surprise that bluegrass musicians from the present lift and riff off of bluegrass musicians from the past. This is not malicious nor nefarious, rather it’s a way of mixing the old with the new and paying homage to the predecessors that paved the road for the successors.

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With all that in mind, there are a few musicians of the current day who hold some prevalent similarities to some of the greatest bluegrass musicians of the 20th century. So, if you want to mend the past and the present, then read about these three bluegrass comparisons.

Billy Strings & Tony Rice

Billy Strings is the most famous bluegrass player currently on the planet. Although, once upon a time, that title belonged to the one and only Tony Rice. Rice certainly resides on the more orthodox side of the genre, whereas Strings does not, but regardless, the two play with the same momentum, fury, and intricate schemes.

Matter of fact, Billy Strings has paid homage to his bluegrass predecessor by covering “Freeborn Man,” “Tipper,” “Manzanita,” and “Likes of Me.” So in a way, Rice built the foundation, and Billy Strings is finishing the house.

Old Crow Medicine Show & Doc Watson

OCMS and Doc Watson may not have a ton of tonal similarities. However, their main similarities derive from the fact that they can do it all. They mainly play bluegrass, although both parties fuse blues, gospel, and country all together to create a listening experience that makes them very identifiable.

Also, the spirit of Doc Watson lives in OCMS, and not just in their music. Prior to becoming a staple bluegrass band in Nashville’s country music scene, Doc Watson was actually one of the premier reasons the group got their start. So, without Doc, who knows where OCMS would be.

Sierra Hull & Ricky Skaggs

Both Sierra Hull and Ricky Skaggs were child prodigies who kicked off their music careers rather early. In addition, they are both virtuosos at the mandolin and talented singers. Though, besides these surface-level similarities, Skaggs and Hull produce traditional sounding bluegrass music with a modern twist. Skaggs did it in the ’70s and ’80s and Hull is doing it now.

Sierra Hull has called Ricky Skaggs one of her premier musical influences on several different occasions. Matter of fact, she once stated, “He’s always been just such a wonderful person and hero to me” and “I’ve poured over so many of the albums Ricky’s made,” per The Boot.

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