Billie Forrester

Wilene "Sally Ann" Forrester (December 20, 1922 – November 17, 1999), also known as Billie Forrester, was an American musician considered to be "the first woman in bluegrass", having been employed by Bill Monroe (considered the "father" of bluegrass music) and his band, the Blue Grass Boys, from 1943 to 1946.

Early life Goldie Sue Wilene Russell was born in Raton, New Mexico. At the age of three, after her mother's death, Wilene was taken in by her maternal grandparents in Avant, Oklahoma. At the age of fifteen, she attended the high school academy at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, where she adopted the name "Billie". There she studied orchestra, piano, and voice, and participated in the glee club. After two years, her schooling was interrupted by the beginning of her musical career.

Musical career In 1939, at the age of seventeen, she won a spot on the new Saddle Mountain Roundup (SMR) radio show on KVOO, Tulsa, playing guitar and singing. The Forresters stayed with Monroe through the end of March, 1946, when they moved back to Howdy's home in Texas. Twelve years later, Sally Ann died, at the age of 76, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. However, knowledge of her extensive musical talent and performing prowess lays waste to such sexism. If the origin of bluegrass is defined as the union of the "big three" (Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, and Earl Scruggs), then, as a member of that band, Sally Ann Forrester is truly the first woman in bluegrass.