The figure represented the highest price ever offered for an American-made instrument, although guitars belonging to Eric Clapton and Jerry Garcia later attracted similar bids. Monroe's son, James, put the instrument up for auction in 2001, and a group of Kentucky investors led by Campbell 'Doc' Mercer, a longtime fan of bluegrass and local veterinarian, put in the top bid at $1.125 million. Miraculously, the mandolin was repaired and stayed at Monroe's side until his death in September 1996. Various theories have been circulating for years as to who may have been the perpetrator, but no arrests have ever been made. Although the Goodlettsville police vandalism report on the incident estimated the instrument's value at only $1,500, 'to the bluegrass community, the wanton destruction of the mandolin was more than just vandalism it was sheer sacrilege,' wrote Frets Magazine contributor Jim Hatlo.

A second mandolin and some photos of Monroe had also been vandalized, but nothing was stolen. When he entered his home, he found his 1923 Gibson F-5 mandolin, built by craftsman Lloyd Loar, smashed into several pieces, a fireplace poker lying nearby. On a chilly autumn afternoon in November 1985, the 'Father of Bluegrass' returned to his farm in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, after having lunch with his wife, Della, at nearby Mason's Restaurant.

Bill Monroe, on stage at the Opry eleven years before the mandolin's destruction, courtesy of Alan Mayor.īill Monroe had seen a lot of troubles in his days, but nothing could have prepared him for this. When he entered his home, he found his 1923 Gibson F-5 Lloyd Loar mandolin smashed into splinters. It was a chilly autumn afternoon in November of 1985 when Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass, returned to his Goodlettsville, Tennessee, farm after having lunch with wife Della at nearby Mason's restaurant.

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