Bill Monroe's Mandolin Story (Low Quality) 80's TV Show

Bill Monroe in his own words describes the history of his Gibson mandolin.
This footage was taped from a TV broadcast in the late 80's and found recently on an old VHS tape. Sorry the quality is low. There was also a feature about the repairs of Bill Monroe's mandolin on the same tape which details the many repairs done to the instrument at that time.

[@johnlappin5881]

There will never be another BILL MONROE

[@vanceox]

Bill was also quite the skirt-chaser in his day

[@jaydubbyuh2292]

My father and I went to a bluegrass festival in Virginia Beach in 1987, where Bill Monroe headed the lineup of bluegrass stars appearing there. We followed him from the stage to his bus and he had two armed guards escort him from the stage to his bus and his mandolin was in a protective case. We got his autograph and spoke with him. What a wonderful memory of the father of bluegrass and my own father who passed away the following year.

[@bluegrasscannuk]

Thanks for this upload. We all pretty well know by now how Bill's Gibson was stolen and smashed . But hearing ,from Bill himself , how it was in 200 pieces and the Gibson technician pain stakingly put it back together literally like before - is truly amazing. And the "at no cost to Bill " part is also interesting. I am sure , as Bill noted , that he sold a lot of mandolins for Gibson. Thanks.

[@terrypoirier4504]

That was on the "Nashville Now" show with Ralph Emery on The Nashville Network. Those were the days!

[@Cristasphoto]

Yep. I was a child when we were in the audience. It was neat.

[@richardmullins2850]

The Bluegrass GOAT Never will there be another like Bill Monroe

[@jacobhauser7878]

Bill is the man!!

[@thefreese1]

The person who did this needed to be restrung himself... that's the equivalent of someone smashing Willie's Guitar, Trigger... A very important piece of history that actually changed many genres of music....

[@thelastjohnwayne]

Not restrung but Strung Up

[@wayneberry8226]

I love bill.

[@simon-oy6um]

$150 was a lot of money then 😮

[@Ironworthstriking]

Those mandolins completely separate from the Monroe connection would be worth hundreds of thousands today. Those mandolins WITH the Monroe connection are worth millions.

[@ngzcaz]

I'll only say " that ain't the way I heard it "..................

[@loversroll1]

Right now it would be 200,000.00

[@oldcremona]

Ralph is not in the Talk Show Host Hall of Fame.

[@thefreese1]

Today the f5 is priceless... millions probably. Funny .. he needed the asked Gibson to work on it way back and Gibson was going to charge him for it ...even after him selling so many mandolins for them ..So he took out hos pocket knife and carved The name Gibson off it in front of him.. Later he changed his story because Gibson was working on his stuff for free .. lol .. Claimed he carved it off to keep people from asking see it .. lol 😅

[@goldpop5001]

Better put that repairman on night shift instead of days. We now know what he's been doin' after dark[neighbor's wife].lol

[@johngeddes7894]

Other way around. Monroe was known to get it where he could, and one pissed off paramour just went ballistic over some squabble they had. He didn’t treat his band members too well, either. Kenny Baker needed to see a close relative in the hospital but Bill told him he couldn’t go. That’s when Kenny walked right off the stage and found work elsewhere. Such drama.

[@LJFZR]

Bet it was a pissed off ex girlfriend that smashed those Mandolins

[@bluegrasscannuk]

Ol' Bill had a few.

[@johngeddes7894]

Yep

[@sharonnorthern1525]

It was his wife.