Burkett H. "Uncle Josh" Graves
SEPTEMBER 27, 1928 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

I grew up listening to Josh Graves playing the Dobro. For many years his name was the only one I associated with the instrument. He is still my favorite and I am deeply honored that I had an opportunity to meet him and play music together. If you ever want to know anything about tone, note selection or just general musicianship just study Josh.

No one has ever loved their family any more than Josh. I have never been around him that he wasn't talking about them or his wife Evelyn , the most devoted person I've ever met. Josh took care of his family, even from his hospital bed, until the very end. Again, if you ever want to know how to treat your family just study Josh.

Below are some things I have take from the web. The first is the biography stolen from Josh's official website, www.unclejoshgraves.com . If you have never read about everything Josh has done then get ready to be amazed. This guy was what you would call a true pioneer. He did things in music that few people ever do.

 The other item is the obituary that was printed in the Tennessean.

Please keep the family in your thoughts.
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(picture stolen from www.unclejoshgraves.com)

Birthname: Burkett Howard Graves Born: 09/27/1928 in Tellico Plains,TN. Uncle Josh Graves is one of the greatest of all dobro players and probably the first to have played the instrument in bluegrass music. Historian Bill C. Malone summarized Graves' abilities as follows: "Graves perfected a rolling syncopated style that enabled him to play galloping breakdowns as well as slow love songs or ballads'. He was attracted to the dobro as a child on hearing Cliff Carlisle play on Jimmie Rodgers' recordings, and he later met Carlisle, who gave him help and encouragement. He was also influenced in his early career by the dobro playing of Pete Kirby (Bashful Brother Oswald). He learned not only dobro but also guitar and bass, and in 1942, he made his professional debut with the Pierce Brothers. After then playing with Esco Hankins in Knoxville, he played with Molly O'Day and Mac Wiseman, before joining Stoney Cooper And Wilma Lee on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. In 1957, he moved with them to the Grand Ole Opry, where he first met Flatt And Scruggs. He soon became a permanent member of their Foggy Mountain Boys, initially playing bass, but soon changing to dobro. He was impressed by Scruggs' brilliant three-fingered style of banjo playing which, with Scruggs" help, he soon adapted to the dobro. When Flatt And Scruggs split in 1969, he became a member of Flatt's Nashville Grass until 1971, when he joined the Earl Scruggs Revue until 1974. During the 60s and early 70s, he played on albums by both Flatt and Scruggs and as a session musician, he played albums by other artists including Steve Young and Kris Kristofferson. In 1974, he left Scruggs to work as a session musician and to make solo appearances. He recorded his debut, Alone At Last, for Epic Records and also appeared on releases by Charlie McCoy, Boots Randolph and James Talley. In 1975, he recorded a duet album with Jake Tullock as Uncle Jake And Uncle Josh (he had created Uncle Josh as an alter-ego comic character that he portrayed on stage, and he was friendly with Tullock from his days with Flatt And Scruggs). During the late 70s, he recorded with Bobby Smith and as one of Joe Maphis' Super Picker Pals, while also recording solo albums for CMH. In the 80s, Graves, Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas produced Dobro Summit, an educational video, and he also played as a member of the Masters, with Eddie Adcock, Kenny Baker and Jesse McReynolds. In the 90s, Graves was still in demand for session work and was regularly making appearances on various radio and television shows.

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Burkett Howard "Uncle Josh" GRAVES SR.
Age 79
September 30, 2006
Davidson
Age 79 of Madison, TN. September 30, 2006. Preceded in death by parents, Troy and Elizabeth Graves; sister, Geneva; brothers, Richard and Buddy. Survived by wife, Evelyn B. Graves; daughters, Linda (Carol) Howell and Bambi Lynn (Barry) Broersma; sons, Burkett H. Josh (Marie) Graves, Jr., William Troy (Sheryl) Graves and Raymond Bryan (Chantha) Graves; sister, Jewel Key; brother, Harold Ray Graves; 18 grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be at the Madison Funeral Home Monday, October 2, 2006, 2 - 8 p.m. and Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 10 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Madison Funeral Home. Pallbearers Larry Perkins, Hide Watanabe, Rick Keisler, Dan Hayes, Hugh Moore and Marty Stewart. Honorary Pallbearers Earl Scruggs, Kenny Baker, Lance LeRoy, Curly Sechler, Mac Wiseman, Eddie Adcock, Jesse McReynolds, Jerry Douglas, Gary Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Chris Sharp, Johnny Warren, Billy Pack, Wayne Lewis, Mike Lattimore, Ed Read and Bill Linneman.