Per multiple sources, including Bluegrass Today, Eddie Adcock has passed away on March 19. His cause of death has not been revealed, although he reportedly suffered from numerous health issues over recent years.
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Adcock is most well-known for his skills with a Banjo, although he was also a guitarist. Bluegrass Today explains that Adcock started playing with The Country Gentlemen in 1959 alongside Charlie Waller, John Duffey, and Tom Gray. Dubbed the 'Classic' Country Gentlemen, Adcock stayed with the group for over a decade. He was the second banjo player for the group after Bill Emerson.
The Country Gentlemen wasn't Adcock's first band. After leaving home as a teenager, he dabbled in boxing at a semi-professional level. He then performed with Smokey Graves and The Blue Star Boys, Bill Harrell and The Rocky Mountain Boys, and Buzz Busby and the Bayou Boys.
The latter is of particular note in Adcock's career. A car accident in 1957 involving Adcock and the band forced several members out of performing for a while. Bill Emerson, who was uninjured in the crash, scrambled to find replacements for the injured Bayou Boys. They were reportedly calling themselves the Country Gentlemen soon after.
Eddie opted for a safer line of work in a high school following the accident but couldn't stay away from music for long. He was enticed back into full-time performing in 1959 when the 'Classic' Country Gentlemen requested his appearance during Spring. He stayed with the band for 12 years, although he was ready for something new in the early 70s. Around that time, he assembled a progressive bluegrass ensemble called Generation II, where he met Martha Hearon. They married in 1976.
Eddie Adcock Was First Introduced To The Banjo By His Brother
Per a biography by Blue Grass Hall, Adcock's older brother Bill first introduced him to the Tenor Banjo. He favored the guitar and mandolin when he started learning to play, eventually pivoting to the instrument. He reportedly used music as an avenue away from working at the farm. "throwing hay bales five bales high on the downhill side of a wagon. Playing banjo is easier than that."
Blue Grass Hall posted a tribute on Instagram, describing his impact on the genre.
"His fearless creativity and boundless energy left an indelible mark on the genre, inspiring generations of musicians. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans as we remember his incredible contributions to bluegrass music."
