Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) popularized a 3-finger banjo-picking style (now called Scruggs style) that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. Although other musicians had played in 3-finger style before him, Scruggs shot to prominence when he was hired by Bill Monroe to fill the banjo slot in the Blue Grass Boys. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.