Rual Yarbrough
Encyclopedia
Rual Holt Yarbrough was an American five-string banjo player who worked with some of the most famous bluegrass music
ians.
on the radio and eventually learned to play the banjo. In the mid 1950s he joined the Alabamians. He formed the Dixie Gentlemen
in 1956 together with Jake Landers and Herschel Sizemore. In the beginning they called themselves the Country Gentlemen but when they found out that another group already had that name, they quickly changed theirs to the Dixie Gentlemen. They later recorded with fiddler Tommy Jackson. The group disbanded in 1966 and Yarbrough found work with Jimmy Martin
's Sunny Mountain Boys. He continued working with Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Jim & Jesse
and the Virginia Boys and Bobby Smith and the Boys From Shiloh.
When Yarbrough was performing in Columbus, Ohio
with the Boys From Shiloh, he met Monroe
who offered him a job with the Bluegrass Boys since his banjo player Vic Jordan had just left. Yarbrough was hired and made his first recordings with Monroe two days later, on March 26, 1969. Between 1969 and 1970 he made 21 recordings with Monroe.
Yarbrough also recorded a number of solo albums, and also founded the group, The Dixiemen.
Yarbrough also opened Rual's Music Service in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
where he became well known for his ability to repair and build stringed instruments. Due his shop's proximity to FAME Studios
, Yarbrough would serve as a session performer for many of the acts who performed at the studio during the 1960s and 1970s. He also performed as session player in Nashville, and was featured on records by the likes of Hank Williams, Jr, Mac Davis
, and The Pointer Sisters.
Rual Yarbrough died from complications from pulmonary fibrosis in Florence, Alabama
on September 21, 2010.
both as a solo artist. and as a member of the Dixie Gentlemen.
In 2011, Yarbrough was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
ians.
Biography
Yarbrough was born in Bonnertown, Tennessee. He grew up listening to Bill MonroeBill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
on the radio and eventually learned to play the banjo. In the mid 1950s he joined the Alabamians. He formed the Dixie Gentlemen
Dixie Gentlemen
The Dixie Gentlemen, who reached some level of prominence during the 1960s, were a bluegrass band whose musical style varied between traditional and progressive bluegrass.-Biography:...
in 1956 together with Jake Landers and Herschel Sizemore. In the beginning they called themselves the Country Gentlemen but when they found out that another group already had that name, they quickly changed theirs to the Dixie Gentlemen. They later recorded with fiddler Tommy Jackson. The group disbanded in 1966 and Yarbrough found work with Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin was an American bluegrass musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass".-Early years:Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee. Jimmy Martin was born into the hard farming life of rural East Tennessee. He grew up near Sneedville, singing in church and with friends from surrounding...
's Sunny Mountain Boys. He continued working with Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Jim & Jesse
Jim & Jesse
Jim & Jesse were an American bluegrass music duo composed of brothers Jim McReynolds and Jesse McReynolds...
and the Virginia Boys and Bobby Smith and the Boys From Shiloh.
When Yarbrough was performing in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
with the Boys From Shiloh, he met Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
who offered him a job with the Bluegrass Boys since his banjo player Vic Jordan had just left. Yarbrough was hired and made his first recordings with Monroe two days later, on March 26, 1969. Between 1969 and 1970 he made 21 recordings with Monroe.
Yarbrough also recorded a number of solo albums, and also founded the group, The Dixiemen.
Yarbrough also opened Rual's Music Service in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
where he became well known for his ability to repair and build stringed instruments. Due his shop's proximity to FAME Studios
FAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
, Yarbrough would serve as a session performer for many of the acts who performed at the studio during the 1960s and 1970s. He also performed as session player in Nashville, and was featured on records by the likes of Hank Williams, Jr, Mac Davis
Mac Davis
Mac Davis is a country music singer, songwriter, and actor originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much crossover success...
, and The Pointer Sisters.
Rual Yarbrough died from complications from pulmonary fibrosis in Florence, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
on September 21, 2010.
Legacy
Yarbrough was honored as an Alabama Music Achiever by the Alabama Music Hall of FameAlabama Music Hall of Fame
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, first conceived by the Muscle Shoals Music Association in the early 1980s, was created by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board, which then saw to its Phase One construction of a after a state-wide referendum in 1987...
both as a solo artist. and as a member of the Dixie Gentlemen.
In 2011, Yarbrough was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.