Bogue Sound Grass Co.

Manning Bros. General Merchandise ~ Core Sound Grass Co.

Considering how many banjo pickers come from Earl Scrugg's home state of North Carolina, it's a wonder some feller didn't already make off with a cool band name like "Bogue Sound Grass Company". Instead, fate reserved that simple, profound moniker just for us.

It all started one day at Manning Brothers General Store when I stopped in to get me a moon pie and a Coca~Cola. It was a cold winter day and Mr. Henry had the coal stove glowing, so I sat down on the bench beside the stove to rest a spell and eat my moon pie. About ten minutes later this old feller walked in and sat down. After a few minutes he looked over at me and said, "You want to buy a mandolin?" I said, "No. Don't know how to play a mandolin." A few minutes later he leans over and says, "You want to buy a guitar?" I said, "No. I don't know how to play a guitar." After a few minutes he says, "Well what do you know how to play?" and I says, "I play the banjer."

He finished up his Coca~Cola and then he said, "You got a banjer?" I said "I got one at home." So then he says, "I tell you what. You go home and get your banjer. And I'll go home and get my guitar, and I'll meet you back here in fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes later he showed up with his guitar and his grandson. As fate woud have it, Mr. Henry's new stock boy who came in to work after school knew how to play the mandolin and had it under the counter.

An hour later we had drawed us a sizeable crowd. Mr. Henry liked all the business we brought in so much that he didn't even charge me for the moon pie and Coca~Cola. He said it was "on the house" for all the fine music we played and for the crowd we brought in.

That was six years ago, and basically I'm still picking for moon pies and a Coca~Cola.

"Just jump in where ya can and hang on."

Bogue Sound Grass Co.
Located in Coastal North Carolina's
Bogue Sound region.