Parents who are afraid that extended exposure to television will lead children to join gangs or become serial murderers should check out the story of Charlie Cushman, whether they are fond of bluegrass or not. As a Tennessee tyke, he hunkered down on Saturday afternoons, never changing the channel from local affiliate WSM-TV and a lineup of programming that included The Ernest Tubb Show, The Wilburn Brothers Show, The Porter Wagoner Show, The Flatt & Scruggs Show and, needless to say, The Grand Ole Opry.
The banjo style and exciting repertoire of Earl Scruggs are frequently ...