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Archived Arts & Entertainment

Earl Scruggs Center documents the life of a premier musician

art scruggsThe new Earl Scruggs Center, honoring one of the nation’s premier banjo artists, will celebrate its grand opening at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, in the Cleveland County Court Square in Shelby.

 

The center, which is housed in the historic courthouse, features exhibits of the life and music of Earl Scruggs, many of which are interactive. The “Common Threads” exhibit allows visitors to “play” the instruments used in bluegrass music in an interactive display or learn more about the icons of American folk music.

The Center combines the life story of the legendary five-string banjo master and Cleveland County native with the story of the history and cultural traditions of the region. It was in the Flint Hill community of Cleveland County where Scruggs learned to play banjo and began the three-finger playing style that has come to be known around the world as “Scruggs Style.”

The Center will explore Scruggs’ innovative career and celebrate how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world. Scruggs was known to embrace tradition while also adapting to the changing times and looking toward the future.

For admission rates and more information, visit www.earlscruggscenter.org.