Earl Scruggs dies at 88

  • 12 years ago
PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL.

Banjo innovator and bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs has died.

The four-time Grammy winner was perhaps best known for "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," the theme song for "The Beverly Hillbillies" television program.

Scruggs' style of banjo playing set him apart - rather than strumming the strings, he developed a three-right finger picking style that was able to coax precise melodies and harmonies from his instrument.

His son, who played bass guitar with the legend, said he had been in failing health for some time.

Earl Scruggs was 88-years-old.

Alicia Powell, Reuters.