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Bessie Lee Mauldin: Born on December 28, 1920, in Norwood, North Carolina, and died on February 8, 1983 in Albemarle near her hometown of Norwood, North Carolina. Bessie Lee was an American bassist, singer, songwriter, and a member of the bluegrass band “Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys” from 1953–1964. Bessie Lee was nicked named "The Carolina Songbird" by Bill Monroe. (link to his wiki page).

Pioneer and Trailblazer:

Bessie Lee was one of the first professional women bluegrass bass players, a trailer blazer, and as such Bessie Lee paved the way for both men and women bluegrass bass players for generations that continues to this very day. As one of the first female bluegrass bass players she more than rose to the occasion as a foundational member in Monroe’s bluegrass band for over a decade. She was one of the Bluegrass Boys from 1953–1964.[1]

Bessie Lee Maudlin was a prolific contributor, as a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. She played string bass on 35 of Monroe’s recording sessions, which amounted to 111 cuts, and no other musician or Blue Grass Boy contributed to more recordings, with the except of Kenny Baker, his fiddler [Murphy Henry p. 46].