By Emily Luxen
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Family, friends and fans gathered to pay their last respects to country music legend Earl Scruggs.
A public memorial was held at the Ryman Auditorium Sunday. Scruggs died Wednesday in Nashville of natural causes.
"He's probably the single most recognizable instrumentalist on the planet. I feel real fortunate to come here and pay tribute to him," said fan, Colin O'Brien.
Scruggs was a pioneering banjo player who invented the three finger picking style of play. He teamed with guitarist Lester Flatt for 20 years for hits like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and the theme song of the TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies."
He won four Grammy's, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.
The Academy of Country Music held a tribute to Scruggs Sunday night at its annual awards show in Las Vegas.
Scruggs is survived by his two sons, Gary and Randy. His family has asked that donations go to the Country Music Hall of fame or the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, North Carolina.
Email: eluxen@newschannel5.com
