Rights To Bluegrass Legend Bill Monroe’s Name, Likeness For Sale
Photo Courtesy of Monroe Enterprises
Bill Monroe fans will have a unique opportunity to own the rights to the name and likeness of the bluegrass legend, including rights to the name “Blue Grass Boys,” the name of Bill’s band and a who’s who of greats that over the years has included Flatt & Scruggs, Gordon Terry, Mac Wiseman, Del McCoury, and Stringbean (David Akeman).
In addition to the name and likeness offering, fans can also purchase the rights to the BillMonroe.com website, and several other exciting parts of the Bill Monroe legacy, including the historic Uncle Pen’s Cabin in his hometown of Rosine, Kentucky.
Also being offered in a separate bundle is a treasure trove of Monroe memorabilia and personal items, many of which have never been available and will likely never be available to the public again. Included among the items are over 1,800 personal and business checks, including some written to Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, and Johnny Paycheck, knives and watches owned by Monroe, his back brace, social security card, ATM card and gas cards, Christmas cards, thousands of his personal papers and collectibles, suits, coats, shoes, ties, and even his Last Will and Testament. The collection also includes his own personal record collection and one of his fiddles which he kept for sixty-seven years that has his initials inscribed inside of it, and an extensive merchandise collection including T-Shirts and CDs, 8×10 pictures, commemorative plates, and even his own mailing list with over 10,000 addresses.
Over 250 live recordings from Bill’s Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival will also be offered in an exclusive package. Monroe started the festival in 1967, and over the years has featured performers like Blue Highway, Chris Hillman, J.D. Crowe & The New South, John Hartford, Patty Loveless, and Rhonda Vincent. A fan will also be able to purchase replacement parts including an extra set of tuning keys and a bridge from Monroe’s famous Gibson 1923 Lloyd Loar that is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Parties interested in bidding on these one of a kind items should contact Tony Conway, the exclusive agent for the Bill Monroe Estate, at 615-724-1818 for more information.
Monroe joined the WSM Grand Ole Opry in 1939, and was a member for almost six decades until his passing in September 1996. One of the few members of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Monroe’s musical legacy included stints on Columbia Records and MCA/Decca, with whom he was associated for forty years.
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