"Blue Moon of Kentucky" is a waltz written in 1947 by bluegrass musician Bill Monroe and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. The song has since been recorded by Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline,[1] Ronnie Hawkins, Rory Gallagher, LeAnn Rimes, Paul McCartney, Boxcar Willie, Ray Charles and others. For other uses, see Waltz (disambiguation). ... Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music. ... For the retired NBC News correspondent of the same name, see Bill Monroe (journalist). ... Elvis redirects here. ... Patsy Cline (b. ... Ronnie Hawkins, born January 10, 1935 in Huntsville, Arkansas, United States, is a pioneering rock and roll musician and cousin to fellow rockabilly pioneer Dale Hawkins. ... Rory Gallagher (2 March 1948–14 June 1995) was an Irish blues/rock guitarist, born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, grew up in Cork City in the south of Ireland. ... Margaret LeAnn Rimes (born August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American country music and pop singer and occasional songwriter. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. ... Boxcar Willie (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999; born Lecil Travis Martin) was an American country music singer who sang in the hobo music style. ... For Ray Charles, the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see Ray Charles (composer). ...

Recording history

Bill Monroe wrote the song in 1947, but recorded it for three years later. Carl Perkins played an uptempo version of this song in his early live performances. [2] When the just starting out Elvis Presley, along with Bill Black and Scotty Moore, completed a take of the song in July of 1954, Sun Records owner Sam Phillips exclaimed, "BOY, that's fine, that's fine. That's a POP song now!." Presley responded, "That sounds like Carl Perkins!" Elvis ‘56 DVD Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to everyday speech. ...

Elvis Presley's version went to number one on the country charts across the American South in 1954. This song was the second recorded by Presley, and released by Sun Records. According to guitarist Scotty Moore, it was bassist Bill Black who began playing an irreverent version of the song during an up until then unproductive recording session to produce a second side for the previously recorded "That's Alright Mama". Presley and Moore then joined in. The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... Label of the fourth Sun Records Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels. ... Thats All Right (Mama) is the name of the first single released by Elvis Presley. ...

Ralph Stanley and Carter Stanley recorded version of the song they tracked at Monroe's urging in 1954 shortly after Presley's hit version was released. their take on the song neatly bridges the stylistic gap between Monroe's and Presley's approaches.[3] Ralph Stanley (born February 25, 1927) is an American bluegrass musician. ... Carter Stanley (left) performing with his brother Ralph. ...

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" is the official bluegrass song of Kentucky. In 2002, Monroe's version was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Construction of the Thomas Jefferson Building, from July 8, 1888 to May 15, 1894. ... The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings which are culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States. ...

Later, in the 1960s, the song was covered by instrumental pop band The Tornados; it was one of the few songs that the band ever recorded which employed vocals. Another cover version was released by the Kentucky Headhunters on their 1993 album Rave On!!. An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or recording without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ... The Tornados EP-cover 1963 The Tornados (in USA they were credited as The Tornadoes) were an English instrumental group of the 1960s, who acted as the in-house back-up group for many of Joe Meeks productions. ... The Kentucky Headhunters are an influential country rock group whose early albums were embraced by both country and rock fans, and maintain a cult following among alt-country fans to this day. ...

A splendid version, although rather nervous, was recorded in 1994 by the late Rory Gallagher during the Montreux Jazz Festival, as a part of a medley. This version was released 9 years later in the Wheels Within' Wheels album, in 2003. Rory Gallagher (2 March 1948–14 June 1995) was an Irish blues/rock guitarist, born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, grew up in Cork City in the south of Ireland. ...

In 1995, the remaining Beatles, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed an impromptu 4/4 version of the song that was eventually released on the Bonus DVD of The Beatles Anthology video release. The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an Academy Award-winning English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. ... The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series, a series of three albums and a book, all of which focus on the history of one of the worlds most popular rock band The Beatles. ...

In 2002, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" appeared on King of the Hill (Season 6, Episode 9: The Bluegrass is Always Greener) Also see: 2002 (number). ... This article is about the television program. ... The Bluegrass is Aways Greener is episode 113 in the Fox animated television series King of the Hill. ...

In 2003, CMT ranked "Blue Moon of Kentucky" #11 on its 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... CMT can refer to: Cadmium Mercury Telluride Canal Metropolitano Televisión Catalog Management Table Certified Market Technician Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Childrens Musical Theatreworks of Fresno, California Chip Multi Threading Comision del Mercado de las Telecommunicaciones, the Spanish communications industry regulator. ...

In 2000, John Fogerty recorded a version of this tune on Ricky Skaggs and Friends' "Big Mon" tribute album to Monroe. This C&W version begins with a few seconds of the original recording. Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... This article is about the musician. ...

In January 2008, late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien led the house band, Max Weinberg and The Max Weinberg 7 in a rendition of the song on Late Night With Conan O'Brien.[4] January 2008 was the first month of the current year. ... Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy Award-winning American television host and TV writer, best known as host of NBCs Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Max Weinberg 7 members, (clockwise from far right) - Max Weinberg, Jimmy Vivino, Richie LaBamba Rosenberg, Jerry Vivino, Mark Pender, Scott Healy, and Mike Merritt The Max Weinberg 7 is the house band for the Late Night with Conan OBrien television program. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an Emmy Award-winning American late night talk show that is syndicated worldwide. ...

External links

• 30 second sample @ cduniverse

• Kentucky's State Bluegrass Song: Blue Moon of Kentucky

• NPR report including various versions