11 Facts About Charlie Monroe

Charlie Monroe was an American country and bluegrass music guitarist.

Charlie Monroe was born on his family's farm in Rosine, Kentucky; he was the older brother of the mandolin player Bill Monroe.

When Birch refused the offer, Bill and Charlie took the bill as The Monroe Brothers.

Bill and Charlie Monroe recorded together for the next two years, but Bill chafed under Charlie Monroe's role as the usual lead singer.

Charlie Monroe was comfortable leading a band, more so than his brother Bill as a result of his outgoing personality, and they split in 1938.

Charlie brought members of the Monroe Brothers act with him to Knoxville and then to Roanoke playing on radio stations.

Charlie Monroe spent most of his time during the early 1940s in Greensboro, North Carolina at radio station WBIG, where he was featured on a show called the Noonday Jamboree every day.

Charlie Monroe spent some time in '44 and '45 at WSJS in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Charlie Monroe signed with RCA Victor in 1946 and with Decca Records in 1950; he wrote and recorded a large body of material and continued to tour relentlessly until he announced his retirement in 1957.

Charlie Monroe moved back to his farm and, after the death of his first wife, worked in manual labor in Indiana again.

Charlie Monroe continued to play festivals until diagnosed with cancer in 1974; he died at his farm in Reidsville, North Carolina in 1975 and was buried in his family's plot.