Jim & Jesse
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Jim & Jesse were an American bluegrass music duo consisting of two brothers Jim McReynolds (born February 13, 1927 Coeburn, Virginia - died December 31, 2002) and Jesse McReynolds (born July 9, 1929 Coeburn, Virginia. The brothers were born and raised in Carfax near Coeburn in Virginia.
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[edit] Line-up
Jesse plays the mandolin with a unique "crosspicking"and "split-string" playing method he invented, and Jim sang as a tenor and played guitar. They played with their backing band, The Virginia Boys, consisting of five-string banjo, fiddle and bass guitar. The Virginia Boys have included a who's who of famous musicians such as famed fiddler Vassar Clements, banjo great Allen Shelton, fiddle great Jimmy Buchanan, Carl Jackson, Glen Duncan, Jesse's oldest son, the late Keith McReynolds, and many more. Since the death of brother Jim, Jesse has gone on with their famous Virginia Boys band, and has had great success including his grandchildren in the band lineup. Keith's son, Garrett McReynolds has stepped in and taken over Jim's spot as tenor singer/rhythm guitarist. Garrett's sister, Amanda Lynne McReynolds, sings third part harmony. Sometimes Jesse grabs his fiddle and lets grandson Luke McKnight do the crosspicking that Jesse made famous. This musical family has gone on to the delight of their fans all over the world.
[edit] Record releases and awards
In 1952, Jim & Jesse were signed to their first major label, Capitol Records. They have also recorded for Columbia Records, Epic Records and Opryland USA. They also released under their own Old Dominion record label. In 1960, their first single for Columbia, "The Flame of Love" backed by "Gosh I Miss You All The Time" spent weeks climbing the top 100 national charts. Their other classic songs include "Cotton Mill Man", "Diesel On My Tail", "Are You Missing Me", and "Paradise".
In the early 1960s, Jim and Jesse starred on the Suwannee River Jamboree in Live Oak, Florida for WNER. It was syndicated throughout the Southeast. They 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 inducted into the Grand Ole Opry after making several appearances as guest hosts, and they moved to Gallatin, Tennessee later that year.
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 the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, presented by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jane Alexander at The White House on September 23, 1997.
In 2004, Jesse was honord with a nomination by the Internation 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.
[edit] 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's was not. He died in 2002, 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 all over the world with the Virginia Boys & Girls. He has recently opened a music park on his family farm in Gallatin, TN called "The Pick Inn" where he plans to have many special events and carry on the music that made Jim & Jesse famous.
