Jim & Jesse

Jim & Jesse were an American bluegrass music duo composed of brothers Jim McReynolds (February 13, 1927 – December 31, 2002) and Jesse McReynolds (born July 9, 1929). The two were born and raised in Carfax, a community near Coeburn, Virginia. Their grandfather, Charles McReynolds, had led the band "The Bull Mountain Moonshiners" who recorded at the famous Bristol Sessions in 1927.[1]

Jim & Jesse
Jim & Jesse in 1965
Background information
OriginCarfax, Virginia
GenresBluegrass
Years active1945–2002
LabelsEpic, Harmony, Capitol, CMH Records, Soundwaves, MSR, Rural Rhythm, Pinecastle
Websitewww.jimandjesse.com
Past membersJim McReynolds
Jesse McReynolds

Line-up

Jesse played the mandolin with a unique, self-invented "crosspicking" and "split-string" playing method, and Jim sang as a high tenor and played guitar. They played with their backing band, The Virginia Boys, consisting of five-string banjo, fiddle and bass. The Virginia Boys have included a who's who of famous musicians such as famed fiddler Vassar Clements, banjo great Allen Shelton, Mike Scott, Vic Jordan, Bobby Thompson, Carl Jackson, fiddle great Jimmy Buchanan, Glen Duncan, Jesse's oldest son, the late Keith McReynolds, Randall Franks and many more.

Since the death of brother Jim, Jesse has gone on with their famous Virginia Boys band. He has continued in the bluegrass music tradition and has added other genres of music to his repertoire. His present show includes Chuck Berry and Grateful Dead songs. Jesse participated in a tribute to Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter released in 2010 on Woodstock Records. It features Jerry's friends David Nelson and Sandy Rothman, along with Stu Allen, of the present Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band. The album is titled: "Jesse McReynolds & Friends Tribute to Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter ~ Songs of the Grateful Dead."

Jesse's present band lineup includes Keith's son, Garrett McReynolds as tenor singer/rhythm guitarist. On special occasions Jesse takes out the historic fiddle his grandfather played on the Bristol Sessions, and lets grandson Luke McKnight do the crosspicking that Jesse created. Rounding out the group is Travis Wetzel on fiddle, Gary Reece on banjo, and Larry Carney on guitar. This musical tradition continues on, entertaining fans all over the world.

Record releases and awards

In 1952, Jim & Jesse were signed to their first major label, Capitol Records.[2] They have also recorded for Columbia Records, Epic Records[2] and Opryland USA. They also released under their own Old Dominion record label. In 1960, their first single for Columbia was "The Flame of Love" backed by "Gosh I Miss You All The Time". Their other classic songs include "Cotton Mill Man", "Diesel On My Tail", "Are You Missing Me", and "Paradise".

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jim and Jesse starred on the live radio show, the Suwannee River Jamboree, broadcast on Saturday nights from Live Oak, Florida on WNER radio.[3] The show was also syndicated throughout the Southeastern United States. The brothers replaced the Stanley Brothers on the show. They left when Martha White began using the duo as a sponsor.

On March 2, 1964, they were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry after making several appearances as guest performers, and they moved to Gallatin, Tennessee later that year.[4]

Their numerous honors include induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame's "Walkway of Stars", the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor, and Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Individually and collectively they were nominated for several Grammy Awards. They also received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts,[5] presented by Hillary Clinton and Jane Alexander at The White House on September 23, 1997.

Jim and Jesse joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry for the In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) cast CD "Christmas Time's A Comin'" performing "Christmas Time's A Comin'" with the cast on the CD released on Sonlite and MGM/UA for one of the most popular Christmas releases of 1991 and 1992 with Southern retailers. Jesse also added his mandolin talents to a vocal performance of "Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella" by the late TV legend Carroll O'Connor.

In 2004, Jesse was honored with a nomination by the International Bluegrass Music Association for his project, "Bending the Rules" as Instrumental Recording of the Year.

Jesse continues to perform at numerous folk festivals representing the traditional arts and some of his new styles.

A record setting career for the duo ends

In 2002, both brothers were diagnosed with different types of cancer. Jesse's battle was successful, but Jim died in 2002 at the age of 75, ending the longest active professional brother duet in country music history - 55 years.

Jesse has carried on the Jim & Jesse tradition and continues to play The Grand Ole Opry & special dates with his band, as well as being a guest with other groups. He lives in Gallatin, TN.

Discography

Albums
Year Album US Country Label
1963 Bluegrass Special — Epic
Bluegrass Classics —
1964 The Old Country Church —
1965 Y'all Come —
Berry Pickin' in the Country —
1966 Sing Unto Him a New Song —
1967 Diesel on My Tail 13
1968 All-Time Great Country Instrumentals —
1969 Saluting the Louvin Brothers —
1970 We Like Trains —
Wildwood Flower — Harmony
1972 Mandolin Workshop — Hilltop Records
1974 Superior Sounds of Bluegrass — Old Dominion Records
1980 Jim & Jesse Today! — CMH Records
1982 Jim & Jesse & Charlie (with Charlie Louvin) — Soundwaves
1990 The Jim & Jesse Story — CMH Records
1991 Music Among Friends — Rounder
1997 Tribute to Bill Monroe — AMI
1998 Songs From the Homeplace — Pinecastle
2001 Our Kind of Country —
2002 American Pride —
2003 'Tis Sweet to be Remembered —

Singles
Year Single US Country Album
1964 "Cotton Mill Man" 43 single only
"Better Times A-Coming" 39 Y'all Come
1967 "Diesel on My Tail" 18 Diesel on My Tail
"The Ballad of Thunder Road" 44
1968 "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" 49 single only
"Yonder Comes a Freight Train" 56 We Like Trains
1970 "The Golden Rocket" 38
1971 "Freight Train" 44
1982 "North Wind" (with Charlie Louvin) 56 Jim & Jesse & Charlie
1986 "Oh Louisiana" 78 single only
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References
  1. Harrison, Pat. Notes to The Bristol Sessions 1927/1928 - Country Music's "Big Bang". JSP Records JSP77156 (4CD box set), 2012.
  2. "Jim & Jesse Biography". CMT. November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  3. Ewing, Tom. "Leslie Sandy – The Lost Are Found". Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine. 2004 (January). Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  4. "Opry Timeline - 1960s". Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  5. "NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1997". www.arts.gov. National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
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