Earl Scruggs (born January 6, 1924, Shelby, North Carolina, USA - died March 28, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, USA) was an American banjo player and musician, noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger style (now called Scruggs style) on the 5-string banjo that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. Along with Lester Flatt he founded The Foggy Mountain Boys. In 1986, received his Honorary Doctorate of Humanites from Gardner-Webb College, Boiling Springs, NC. and in 2005 Honorary Doctor Of Music, Berklee College Of Music, Boston MA. He first reached a mainstream audience in the early 1960’s through his performance on The Ballad of Jed Clampett, the theme for the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies.

Married to Louise Scruggs.
His sons, Randy Scruggs and Gary Scruggs, were musicians that played with him on some projects.
His grandaughter, Lindsey Scruggs, is also a musician.