Va. bluegrass musician Alvin Breeden dies

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia traditional bluegrass musician Alvin Breeden has died. He was 70.

Preddy Funeral Home Chapel in Madison says Breeden died Tuesday at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville.

The Earlysville resident and his band, Alvin Breeden & the Virginia Cutups, played traditional bluegrass for 30 years before he retired in 2006.

Breeden learned the claw hammer style of playing banjo from his mother when he was 10. He played professionally with Bob and Cindy Dean by the time he was 16. He played with Ralph Stanley, Don Reno and Jim Orange during his career.

The Osborne Brothers recorded a song, "Fastest Grass Alive," written by Paul Craft in Breeden's honor.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Preddy Funeral Home Chapel.