David Bianculli

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For Terry Gross and Tanya Mosley, I'm David Bianculli.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm David B. Kuhle.

One hundred years ago today, the Grand Ole Opry began with a performance on the Alabama radio station WSM.

We're going to mark that anniversary with performances by two country artists who were members of the Opry.

We begin with the great bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, who perfected the three-finger style of banjo picking that became standard in bluegrass.

Along with guitarist Lester Flatt, he was half of the duo responsible for such bluegrass standards as Foggy Mountain Breakdown and the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies.

In 1945, Scruggs joined Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys, the band that virtually invented bluegrass.

He made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry that same year with Monroe's band, which included Lester Flatt.

In 1948, Flatt and Scruggs left Monroe to form their own group and became one of the most popular acts in country music.

Their hit, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, became even more famous when it was used on the soundtrack of the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde.