Lester Flatt

• Name — Lester Flatt • Birth Name — Lester Raymond Flatt • Born — 19 June 1914 • Birthplace — Overton County, Tennessee, U.S. • Died — 11 May 1979 • Place of death — Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. • Instrument — Guitar, vocals, mandolin • Genre — Bluegrass, country • Occupation — Musician, songwriter • Years Active — 1940–1979 • Past Member Of — Flatt and Scruggs, Nashville Grass

• Illustration — Flatt (right) with Earl Scruggs (left) as part of Flatt and Scruggs in 1949 Flatt was born in Duncan's Chapel, Overton County, Tennessee, United States, to Nannie Mae Haney and Isaac Columbus Flatt. In 1943, he played mandolin and sang tenor in The Kentucky Pardners, the band of Bill Monroe's older brother Charlie. He first came to prominence as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1945 and played a thumb-and-index guitar style that was in part derived from the playing of Charlie Monroe and Clyde Moody. In 1948, he started a band with fellow Monroe alumnus Earl Scruggs, and for the next 20 years, Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys were one of the most successful bands in bluegrass. When they parted ways in 1969, Flatt formed a new group, the Nashville Grass, hiring many of the Foggy Mountain Boys. He continued to record and perform with that group until his death in 1979. His role as rhythm guitarist and vocalist in each of these seminal ensembles helped define the sound of traditional bluegrass music. His solid guitar playing and rich lead voice are unmistakable in hundreds of bluegrass standards. He is also remembered for his library of compositions.

Lester Flatt was recorded at birth as Lester Raymond Flatt. The authorities additionally record the heading Lester Raymond Flatt. His recorded language was English. He married Gladys Stacey.

Lester Flatt is recorded as guitarist, singer, songwriter and musician.