Posted by Bob Lackey on January 26, 19102 at 12:36:32:
In Reply to: Scruggs vs Monroe: "Father of Bluegrass" posted by barry on January 24, 19102 at 09:12:47:
Bill Monroe put together the first real bluegrass band which featured Earl and Lester.
As I understand it, Snuffy Jenkins actually was one of the first, if not the first, to play old time tunes like Cripple Creek and Cumberland Gap on a banjo with the three finger style. But Snuffy's style was not as developed as Earl's, so Earl certainly took it much futher and it's Earl's style that seems to be part of every bluegrass banjo player that came afterwards.
But I don't think some of the other first generation banjo pickers such as Don Reno and Ralph Stanley actually developed their styles by listening to Earl. I think they were influenced by Jenkins. Reno seemed to have his style already well developed when he first heard Earl after he got out of the military. Reno took Earl's place when he and Lester quit Bill Monroe if I remember correctly.
BTW, I've heard from several sources that Earl Scruggs, Don Reno and Ralph Stanley were all good friends and really enjoyed each other's company. So I'm sure they all talk banjo many times.