 Wade Echard Mainer ( April 21 , 1907 – September 12 , 2011 ) was an American country singer and banjoist . With his band , the Sons of the Mountaineers , he is credited with bridging the gap between old @-@ time mountain music and Bluegrass and is sometimes called the " Grandfather of Bluegrass . " In addition , he innovated a two @-@ finger banjo fingerpicking style , which was a precursor to modern three @-@ finger bluegrass styles . 
