User:GainerJ/Amos Garren

Franklin "Amos" Garren was the first bass player for Bill Monroe and his bluegrass boys. He was the bass player who played on the famous hit for Mr. Monroe, "Mule Skinner Blues." He was not in the band for a long time but he made an impact as a double bass player that is still seen today.

Early History
Franklin "Amos" Garren was born in North Carolina on May 10th, 1914 He was one of the first bluegrass "bass players." Bill Monroe selected Amos Garren to become his bass player after the band move their home base to Greenville, South Carolina. Amos Garren was hired in the year 1942, as the "father of bluegrass music," Bill Monroe, was putting together his blue grass boys and his baseball team together.

Professional Career
Amos Garren started his career with Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys in August of 1939, after "Snowball" Millard left the band in July to be with his wife who was expecting a baby. The band really liked Amos Garren because he was a lead singer for the band. The gospel music songs that the band would do would be given more attention because the band would start doing quartet music. Amos would sing lead, Bill would sing the tenor part, Art Wooten would sing tenor, and Johnnie Davis sang the bass. Amos Warren also did comedy and Bill was happy with the group he had, because they would put in the long hours of practice. With this band, they would be the first band to ever receive an encore on a broadcast, and it was even on the Grand Ole Opry After the hiring of Amos, Bill Monroe started promoting the band and this specific lineup. Amos was playing bass with Mr. Monroe when Monroe made his Opry Debut. Bill Monroe loved his solid foundation on the bass and was happy in hiring Amos, as now Davis has a solid backing for his rhythm. Amos Garren left the band in 1940, right before the Blue Grass Boys recorded there first album.

Songs that Amos Garren played with Bill Monroe

 * 1) Bile "Em Cabbage Down was the second song of the set that Opry member Bill Monroe played on his set of the Grand Ole Opry, as he was one of the newest Grand Ole Opry members that he was inducted only a month before this set