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The mandolin, a descendent of the lute, reaches back to some of the earliest musical instruments known to man. It entered mainstream American pop culture from eastern and southern Europe in the 1800's. Americas most noted mandolin maker, Orville Gibson, began designing mandolins in the 1880's. By the late 1890's, the mandolin was highly popular in the Montgomery Ward catalog. In the early 1900's, Gibson broke away from traditional Italian mandolin making and began designing the mandolin closer to what we know of it to be today. In the 1940's, Bill Monroe also moved away from the traditional mandolin styles of the time by leaving the quiet and relaxed tremolo style behind for a more urgent, fiery, powerful sound never heard before. Monroe introduced raw emotion to this instrument and later went on to create the bluegrass style of music we know today. The mandolin continues to be a very popular and vital point to the sound of bluegrass music. From traditional songs made famous by Monroe to the newly written material, we are proud to bring to you the very best songs featuring the mandolin. Music by Butch Baldassari, Wayne Benson, Jesse Brock, The Masters, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Nothin' Fancy, Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds, Osborne Brothers, David Parmley, Larry Perkins, and Special Consensus.