Earl Scruggs Center (4/19/23)

Ever since we arrived in Boiling Springs we’ve heard of the Earl Scruggs Center in the old courthouse in the main square in Shelby. Along with Don Gibson and Bobby Bell, Earl Scruggs is a local boy that went on to much bigger things. Today we decided it was time to check out the Earl Scruggs Center to learn more about this local and American icon.

I think we appreciated the museum more having been in the area for some time, as we learned more about the community as well as Earl Scruggs and bluegrass music. The museum started out with an informative film that provided information on Earl Scruggs’ career, including his partnership with Lester Flatt, his wife’s management of his career, and his continued growth including performing and playing with his sons.

Earl Scruggs was born in the Flint Hill section of Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He would have almost been our neighbor! He was born into a musical family on a 40-acre farm, and he helped with both the family’s farm and mill work before making it as a musician. He taught himself the 3 finger playing style on the banjo for which he is famous at age 10.

Flatt and Scruggs wrote the theme song for the Beverly Hillbillies and their song “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” was featured in the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde.” The song won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for the National Recording Registry works of unusual merit in 2005.

Scruggs received 4 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a National Medal of Arts. He became a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (as was his wife Louise for her management work) and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.