2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Clarence White - one of the undisputed greats of bluegrass guitar.

To mark the occasion, and to celebrate Clarence, I've been speaking to people who knew and played with him, as well as musicians who were influenced by his playing.

This is part 1, featuring all new interviews with David Grier, who knew Clarence in the final year of his life, and Alan Munde, who played with Clarence in those final months, most famously on The New Kentucky Colonels - Live In Sweden 1973.

Part 2 will feature interviews with Russ Barenberg, Tim Stafford and Michael Daves. 

I've chosen to focus mostly on Clarence's flatpicking and his contribution to bluegrass guitar, although the reality is he had just as seismic an influence on country rock.

These interviews were a joy to be part of. I hope you enjoy them.

Matt

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Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

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