b. James William Monroe, 1941. Son of Bill Monroe. James began his musical career in 1964, playing upright bass with his father’s Blue Grass Boys. In 1969, he became the band’s guitarist and also began to take lead vocals. He left the Blue Grass Boys in 1972, and formed his own bluegrass band, the Midnight Ramblers, but later recorded two albums with his father. In the mid-70s, he recorded several albums for Atteiram, including a tribute to his uncle, Charlie Monroe, on which his father also appeared. Soon afterwards he drastically reduced his performing to help with the running of his father’s business affairs.