Birch Monroe

Who is Birch Monroe?

Birch Monroe was a notable early bluegrass fiddler, bassist, founding member of the Monroe brothers, and older brother to Bill Monroe. Birch, along with his brother Charlie left the Monroe family farm in Rosine, Kentucky in the 1920s to work in the booming northern factories of the time. When Bill joined them in 1929 they were working in East Chicago at Sinclair oil refinery. There, the brothers played local venues and dances. Birch, with his brothers played on WAE in Hammond and also performed weekly on WJKS in Gary. In 1932, Birch, Charlie, and Bill, along with a friend, Larry Moore, were hired as exhibition square dancers for the national barn dance radio program, broadcast from Chicago. In 1934, Birch chose the stability of working at the refinery to support his sisters while Charlie and Bill went on to perform on KFNF in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Birch later joined Bill in 1946 on a recording session in Chicago; a session that included Earl Scruggs. Birch sang bass on the gospel number “Wicked Path of Sin.” Birch would play bass on tour with Bill after Howard Watts left the band.