Rest in Peace, Earl Scruggs

Bluegrass legend, Earl Scruggs passed away on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at a Nashville TN hospital at the age of 88. His son Gary said his father died of natural causes.

Earl Scruggs was best known as the three finger banjo-picking half of the popular duo, Flatt and Scruggs, whose most popular songs were “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” the theme song of the 1960s television sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Flatt & Scruggs made several appearances on the Beverly Hillbillies series in the late 60s before they broke up in 1969. Scruggs formed The Earl Scruggs Revue with his sons. Flatt formed Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass. 10 years later, when Lester Flatt was gravely ill, Scrugg visited him in the hospital. He never recovered and passed away on May 11, 1979.

Scruggs is survived by his two sons, Gary and Randy. He married their mother Louise Certain in 1948 and she also served as his manager. Louise passed away in 2006.