Burkette Graves "Uncle Josh"
SEPTEMBER 27, 1928 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

Our friend Josh Graves died on September 30, 2006, after years of health complications and declining health. He continued to give occasional performances and had a strong will to live.

As many on this site know Josh was a monumental musician. He established the Dobro™ as a bluegrass instrument when he introduced it into the classic music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Boys" in 1955. He added an exciting dimension to their music and recorded hundreds of sides with the group for Columbia Records.

Josh's new approach to the instrument, which utilized a 3-finger roll, eventually led to the constant presence of the instrument in country and bluegrass music by paving the way for artists like contemporary player Jerry Douglas.

After Flatt & Scruggs disbanded in 1969, Graves worked with Flatt's Nashville Grass from 1971 through 1974 before joining the Earl Scruggs Revue. For the last 25 years Josh recorded and toured with longtime Bill Monroe fiddler Kenny Baker.

He produced 2 great records for OMS Records and we can recommend them both.

"Sultan of Slide" OMS-25040 released June 20, 2000 - An really great recording featuring Josh Graves backed by artists like Tom T. Hall, Marty Stuart, Delbert McClinton, Vassar Clements, Buddy Emmons, Porter Wagoner, and Johnny Russell. Our opinion?  This is one of the best records of its type ever made.

"Memories of Foggy Mountain" OMS-25100 released April 2, 2002 - A reflection of the classic style of Dobro Josh introduced into the music of the Foggy Mountain Boys. Features the powerful instrumental backup of JD Crowe, Bobby Hicks, and Aubrey Haney.

We will miss Josh Graves and his music. But we will also miss his ever-present sense of humor and positive outlook on life. Even after losing two legs to amputation, Josh was able to find the humor in everything, including his own dire circumstances, and continued to be a positive influence on everyone around him.

Link to a video of Josh Graves' last performance on September 2, 2006 at the JD Crowe Festival in Wilmore, Kentucky. (Features Bobby Osborne)