BLUEGRASS GREAT SONNY OSBORNE IS DEAD AT 84
Sonny Osborne, half of the Osborne Brothers duo with his brother Bobby, died Sunday (October 24) at the age of 84. Hailed as one of the greatest banjo players in bluegrass music, his genius as a singer and musician was well known in many musical genres, including country and folk.
Born in Leslie County, Kentucky, they later moved to Dayton, Ohio, where they started performing. Those performances were momentarily interrupted when Bobby joined the Army. Sonny worked for Bill Monroe after completing his freshman year in 1952. He played the Opry for the first time while working with Monroe. He continued to work with Monroe until his brother Bobby returned from his time in the service in 1953. They then joined with another bluegrass great, Jimmy Martin, performing over WROL in Knoxville and WJR in Detroit. In 1955 the Osbornes left Martin and moved to Wheeling, West Virgina, performing on the Wheeling Jamboree through the end of the year. They then returned to Ohio, where they made the local club circuit. After having a hit with “Ruby Are You Mad” and making history with twin banjos being used on a bluegrass session, they returned to the Wheeling Jamboree as members. There they set out to make history in the music world. Sonny soon became known for his banjo mastery and the duo was known for their harmonies with their stacked trio vocals.
The brothers were the first bluegrass group to perform on a college campus with their 1960 show at Antioch College, just their first stop at introducing bluegrass music to college kids around the country. They were the first bluegrass act to be asked to perform at the White House in 1973 by President Richard Nixon, who in turn came to Nashville to become the only president to ever perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Their music was sought after at more college campuses, festivals, concert halls and auditoriums as they expanded beyond their bluegrass roots and brought the music to new fans everywhere they played.
Once Sonny and Bobby began playing larger venues, they added dobro, electric guitars and drums to their band, which raised a few eyebrows in the bluegrass music world. Nevertheless, they forged ahead, with Sonny coming up with more ways to promote their music to a larger group of fans. Although they played on country music package shows and venues beyond bluegrass music, their love for the music was always obvious to their fans.
They recorded the ever-popular “Rocky Top,” written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, after they signed with Decca Records in 1963. It became the state song for Tennessee in 1982. Other hits for the duo included “Ruby Are You Mad,” “Up This Hill and Down” and “Midnight Flyer.”
Osborne retired in 2005 after he had surgery on his rotary cuff and was unable to continue playing. He remained active in bluegrass music, helping young bluegrass musicians learn the business and developing the line of Krako banjos. He also wrote a question and answer column for Bluegrass Today magazine called “Ask Sonny Anything.”
The Osborne Brothers were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1964 and were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
As word spread of Sonny’s death, his peers began to post comments on his influence on their music and their appreciation for the kindness he showed to them in their careers.
“I’m very sad to hear about the passing of Sonny Osborne, one who could “do Earl” perfectly to my teenage ear,” John McEuen said. “It has been said that ‘Earl impersonators’ are like Elvis impersonators: They all sound like each other, but none sound like the original… but Sonny came real close, and went another direction, too. My brother Bill and I spent a LOTTA hours listening to the Osborne Brothers. I wish his brother Bobby well, and wish I could hear him live on this “Pathway of Teardrops,” a solo I could never learn! Thank you for being so nice to me, Sonny… it meant more than you knew.”
“Sonny Osborne is an icon … not only in the bluegrass style, but in country music, folk, Americana, really, all ‘roots’ music,” notes Dale Ann Bradley. “He is already so missed. A “true brilliant” musical mind. I was so fortunate to work with him as my producer and what I learned through those albums has been priceless.”
Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys posted a photo of “my SONNY OSBORNE CHIEF (banjo), adding “Rest Easy Sonny … I loved you man.”
“His banjo picking style was innovative and inspired many to pick up the instrument; he had an ear for amazing songs and he and Bobby Osborne revolutionized bluegrass vocal harmonies,” Rhonda Vincent posted. “He was an innovator of a unique banjo style — bold and outspoken, and seldom revealed his soft-hearted side. Sending my love and prayers to his entire family. God bless and rest you, Sonny Osborne. Thanks for all the incredible music.”
“One of my heroes has gone home,” Carl Jackson comments. “Sonny Osborne made a huge impression on me even before I met the man. His innovative and unique banjo style was something I loved from the moment I first heard him and his harmony singing left a mark on me that carries on today. But beyond all his legendary musicianship, he was a good man that showed a certain 14-15 year old kid playing banjo for Jim & Jesse extreme kindness. Maybe seeing me out there brought back to him wonderful memories of when he too performed, still wet behind the ears, with the Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe. Whatever the reason, I will never forget how good he was to me always.”
“The World of Music and specifically the genre of Bluegrass lost a Giant and Icon today,” the world-famous Station Inn club posted. “Banjoist Sonny Osborne passed from this earth today at the age of 84. His infectious laugh and contagious smile will be greatly missed by so many that revered his amazing musical talent! Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Osborne Family during this difficult time.”
“We are truly at a loss for words … Sonny Osborne was one of our biggest cheerleaders since the day we started this band,” The Grascals wrote. “His inspiration and encouragement have meant more to us than words can describe. We have all listened to stacks of Osborne Brothers records, pouring over every note of picking and singing from two of the true masters of American roots music. A bluegrass pioneer and innovator of the highest order, his support of our band and our music will stay with us forever. We will miss ya, Chief. Sonny truly broke the mold in every way. Put on an Osborne Brothers record. You won’t regret it. Hail to the Chief.”
