Bobby Osborne, the singer and mandolin player who with his younger brother, Sonny, led one of the most groundbreaking bands in the history of bluegrass, died on Tuesday at a hospital in Gallatin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. His death was confirmed by Dan Rogers, the vice president and executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry. Formed in 1953, the Osborne Brothers band habitually flouted bluegrass convention during its first two decades. They were the first bluegrass group of national renown to incorporate drums, electric bass, pedal steel guitar and even, on records, string sections. They were also the first to record with twin banjos, as well as the first to amplify their instruments with electric pickups.

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Persons: Bobby Osborne, Sonny, Dan Rogers, Osborne, Ernest Tubb, Randy Newman, Everly Organizations: Grand Ole Opry Locations: Gallatin, Tenn, Nashville