Duo Bluegrass US
composé de Jim (né le 13 Février 1927, décédé le 31 Décembre 2002) et Jesse McReynolds
(né le 9 Juillet 1929).
One of the great
bluegrass bands in history, brothers Jim (born 1927) and Jesse (born 1929)
McReynolds and their Virginia Boys remained at the top by changing with the
times. Starting as a traditional brothers duo, Jim on guitar and Jesse on
mandolin showed their versatility by following country's changing tastes, moving
to country/folk when necessary to keep a road band going. Whatever style they
played (including Berry Pickin' in the Country, an album of bluegrass versions
of Chuck Berry tunes), they retained a
pure country core, due in no small part to Jim's pure, high tenor and Jesse's
virtuoso, cross-picking mandolin playing.
Raised in Virginia, Jim & Jesse were born into a musical family. Their
grandfather Charles McReynolds was a fiddler that had recorded a single for
Victor in 1927 with the Bull Mountain Moonshiners. The brothers learned to play
a number of stringed instruments while they were children, occasionally playing
local dances and events as teenagers. However, the duo didn't begin playing
professionally until they were in their 20s and Jim left the Army -- by this
point, Jim was playing guitar and Jesse played mandolin. In 1947, they landed a
daily 15-minute spot on a local Norton radio station. For the next few years,
they played on a variety of Southern radio stations, securing a regular spot on
Augusta, GA's WGAC in 1949. After staying at the station for a year, they moved
to the Midwest, where they played stations in Iowa and Kansas without gaining
much of a following. In 1951, they relocated to Middletown, OH, where they had a
regular spot at WPFB. While they were at the station they cut ten songs with
vocalist Larry Roll under the name the Virginian Trio; the records didn't gain
much attention.
For the remainder of 1951 and much of 1952, Jim & Jesse played at a variety of
radio stations throughout the country. Finally, in 1952, the group secured a
major-label deal with Capitol Records. However, their career was interrupted
when Jesse was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War. After he was
discharged in 1954, he rejoined Jim, who was still playing the Tennessee Barn
Dance in Knowville, TN. For the rest of the decade, they played radio and
television stations across the country -- including ones in Alabama, Georgia,
and Florida -- building up a fan base. During this time, their band, the
Virginia Boys, included such musicians as fiddler
Vassar Clements and banjoist
Bobby Thompson. In 1958, they recorded a handful of sides for Starday Records.
Martha White Mills flour company became Jim & Jesse's sponsors in 1959; the duo
was the company's second major sponsorship, following
Flatt &
Scruggs. In 1961,
they debuted at the Grand Ole Opry; three years later, they became members of
the Opry. Jim & Jesse switched record labels in 1962, signing with Epic Records.
The change in labels resulted in success for the duo, as "Cotton Mill Man"
became their first charting country single in the summer of 1964. For the next
few years, they continued in a straight bluegrass direction, scoring the
occasional hit. In the late '60s, Jim & Jesse adopted a more country-oriented
direction, which resulted in their biggest hit singles, including the number 18
"Diesel on My Tail."
In 1970, Jim & Jesse re-signed to Capitol Records, and the first album they
released under their new contract featured electric instruments. However, the
duo quickly returned to a traditional bluegrass sound, since a bluegrass revival
had gripped the attention of many country fans and college students across the
United States. For the next two decades, the duo was a staple on the bluegrass
festival scene, and they recorded for a variety of independent labels, including
CMH, Rounder, and their own Old Dominion and Double J labels. In 1982, they had
a minor hit single with "North Wind," which was recorded with
Charlie Louvin.
Talents : Jim : Vocal, Guitar - Jesse : Vocal, Mandolin
Style musical : Bluegrass
|
NINE
POUND HAMMER
(1963)
BLUEGRASS
BANJO (1965)
BALLAD OF
THUNDER ROAD
(1967)
THE PROMISED
LAND (1971)
|
|
Années en activité :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles
| 1951 | SP MICRO 004 (US) | Just A Little Talk With Jesus / ? |
| 09/1952 | SP CAPITOL F 2233 (US) | I'll Wash Your Love From My Heart / Are You Missing Me |
| 02/1953 | SP CAPITOL F 2365 (US) | I Will Always Be Waiting For You / Purple Heart |
| 05/1953 | SP CAPITOL F 2476 (US) | Virginia Waltz / Air Mail Special |
| 08/1953 | SP CAPITOL F 2578 (US) | My Darling's In Heaven / Is It True |
| 12/1953 | SP CAPITOL F 2683 (US) | Just Wondering Why / My Little Honeysuckle Rose |
| 04/1954 | SP CAPITOL F 2798 (US) | Are You Lost In Sin / Look For Me I'll Be There |
| 06/1955 | SP CAPITOL F 3141 (US) | Too Many Tears / Memory Of You |
| 08/1956 | SP CAPITOL F 3505 (US) | I'll Wear The Banner / My Garden Of Love |
| 12/1958 | SP STARDAY 45-412 (US) | Pardon Me / Hard Hearted |
| 05/1959 | SP STARDAY 45-433 (US) | Let Me Whisper / Border Ride |
| 11/1959 | SP STARDAY 45-458 (US) | Have You Lost Your Love For Me / Nobody But You |
| 01/1961 | SP COLUMBIA 4-41938 (US) | Gosh I Miss You All The Time / Flame Of Love |
| 09/1961 | SP COLUMBIA 4-42180 (US) | Beautiful Moon Of Kentucky / Diesel Train |
| 04/1962 | SP EPIC 5-9508 (US) | Stormy Horizons / My Empty Arms |
| 07/1962 | SP EPIC 5-9528 (US) | Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes / Pickin' And A Grinnin' |
| 01/1963 | SP EPIC 5-9568 (US) | Voice Of My Darling / Uncle Will Played The Fiddle |
| 10/1963 | SP EPIC 5-9635 (US) | Las Cassas Tennessee / Drifting And Dreaming Of You |
| 04/1964 | SP EPIC 5-9676 (US) | Cotton Mill Man / (It's A Long Long Way To The) Top Of The World |
| 08/1964 | SP EPIC 5-9716 (US) | Old Country Church / Swing Low Sweet Chariot |
| 11/1964 | SP EPIC 5-9729 (US) | Better Times A Coming / Wild Georgia Boys |
| 09/1965 | SP EPIC 5-9851 (US) | Memphis Tennessee / Maybelline |
| 01/1966 | SP EPIC 5-9890 (US) | Johnny B Goode / Dancing Molly |
| 06/1966 | SP EPIC 5-10040 (US) | Don't Let Nobody Tie You Down / If You've Seen One You've Seen Them All |
| 03/1967 | SP EPIC 5-10138 (US) | Diesel On My Tail / All For The Love Of A Girl |
| 08/1967 | SP EPIC 5-10213 (US) |
Ballad Of
Thunder Road
 / Tijuana Taxi |
| 12/1967 | SP EPIC 5-10263 (US) | Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman / Truck Drivin' Man |
| 04/1968 | SP EPIC 5-10314 (US) | Pretty Girls (In Mini Skirts) / Where The Chilly Winds Don't Blow |
| 08/1968 | SP EPIC 5-10370 (US) | Yonder Comes A Freight Train / Banderilla |
| 12/1968 | SP EPIC 5-10429 (US) | When The Snow Is On The Roses / Big Job |
| 04/1969 | SP EPIC 5-10455 (US) | Then I'll Stop Going For You / We Built A Bridge |
| 08/1969 | SP EPIC 5-10508 (US) | I'm Hoping That You're Hoping / When I Stop Dreaming |
| 12/1969 | SP EPIC 5-10563 (US) | Golden Rocket / Freight Train In My Mind |
| 04/1970 | SP PLANTATION PL-50 (US) | Compromise / Flying High |
| 01/1971 | SP CAPITOL 3026 (US) | Freight Train / Just Wondering Why |
| 05/1971 | SP CAPITOL 3099 (US) | San Quentin Quail / I'll Always Be Waiting For You |
| 02/1974 | SP OPRYLAND 3842 (US) | I'm In Love With Martha White / Paradise |
| 07/1974 | SP OPRYLAND 3921 (US) | Ain't No Place For A Country Boy / Billy Don't Be A Hero |
| 10/1974 | SP OPRYLAND 3969 (US) | Love Is A Fading Rose / Bring Back Your Sweet Love |
| 197? | SP OLD DOMINION 9830 (US) | Living In The USA / Big Hands |
| 197? | SP OLD DOMINION 9831 (US) | My Time Is Running Out / Voice Of My Darling |
| 1981 | SP CMH CMH-1541 (US) | Where Do We Go From Here / Rider In The Rain |
| 04/1982 | SP SOUNDWAVES NSD/SW 4671 (US) | North Wind (with Charlie LOUVIN) / Sweeter Than The Flowers (with Charlie LOUVIN) |
| 09/1982 | SP SOUNDWAVES NSD/SW 4688 (US) | Showboat Gamblin' (with Charlie LOUVIN) / Until I Said Goodbye (with Charlie LOUVIN) |
Albums
| 1963 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26031 (US) |
 |
BLUEGRASS SPECIAL - JIM & JESS & THE VIRGINIA BOYS - Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes / Somebody Loves You Darling / She Left Me Standing On The Mountain / Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me / I Wish You Knew / When It's Time For The Whippoorwill To Sing / Grave In The Valley / Bluebonnet Lane / Are You Missing Me / Congratulations Anyway / Pickin' And A Grinnin' / Stoney Creek | ||||||||
| 1963 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26074 (US) |
 |
BLUEGRASS CLASSICS - JIM & JESS & THE VIRGINIA BOYS - Las Cassas Tennessee / Drifting And Dreaming Of You / Grass Is Greener / What About You / I Wonder Where You Are Tonight / Why Not Confess / Nine Pound Hammer / Violet And A Rose / Take My Ring From Your Finger / Little Paper Boy / When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again / Just When I Needed You | ||||||||
| 1964 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26107 (US) |
 |
THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH - Old Country Church / Old Camp Meetin' Time / Kneel At The Cross / Rock Of Ages / Lord I'm Coming Home / This World Is Not My Home / Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Where The Soul Never Dies / Old Time Religion / Where The Roses Never Fade / It's A Lonesome Road / Are You Washed In The Blood | ||||||||
| 1965 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26144 (US) |
 |
Y'ALL COME ! - Y'all Come / Ole Slew Foot / Stay A Little Longer / Better Time's A Comin' / Sleepy Eyed John / Salty Dog Blues / Bluegrass Banjo / Company's Comin' / Rabbit In The Log / Alabam / Good Bunch Of Bisquits / Tell Her Lies And Feed Her Candy | ||||||||
| 1965 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26176 (US) |
 |
BERRY PICKIN' IN THE COUNTRY - Memphis Tennessee / Johnny B Goode / Sweet Little Sixteen / Roll Over Beethoven / Reelin' And Rockin' / Maybelline / Bye Bye Johnny / Too Much Monkey Business / Back In The USA / Brown Eyed Handsome Man | ||||||||
| 1966 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26204 (US) |
 |
SING UNTO HIM A NEW SONG - Sing Unto Him A New Song / Who Did Jesus Did / Weapon Of Prayer / God Moved In / I'll Wear The Banner / Angel Mother / He Walks On The Water / How Much Are You Worth / In God's Eyes / River Of Jordan | ||||||||
| 1967 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26314 (US) |
 |
DIESEL ON MY TAIL - Diesel On My Tail / Sam's Place / Ballad Of Thunder Roll / Six Days On The Road / Lovin' Machine / Hot Rod Race / Truck Drivin' Man / Girl On The Billboard / Give Me Forty Acres / Tijuana Taxi | ||||||||
| 1968 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26394 (US) |
 |
ALL TIME GREAT COUNTRY INSTRUMENTALS - Rose City Chimes / Buckaroo / Maiden's Prayer / Remington Ride / Fireball Express / Wildwood Flower / Orange Blossom Special / Down Yonder / Sugarfoot Rag / Banderilla | ||||||||
| 1969 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26465 (US) |
|
SALUTING THE LOUVIN BROTHERS - Knoxville Girl / Cash On The Barrel Head / I Take The Chance / Hoping That You're Hoping / Must You Throw Dirt In My Face / Childish Love / Are You Teasing Me / My Baby's Gone / I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby / When I Stop Dreaming | ||||||||
| 1970 | LP 12" EPIC BN 26513 (US) |
 |
WE LIKE TRAINS - I Like Trains / Streamlined Cannonball / Wabash Cannonball / Pan American / Tennessee Central No 9 / Golden Rocket / Freight Train In My Mind / Yonder Comes A Freight Train / Fireball Mail / Lonesome Whistle | ||||||||
| 1970 | LP 12" HARMONY HS 11399 (US) |
 |
WILDWOOD FLOWER - Wildwood Flower / Good Bunch Of Bisquits / Grass Is Greener / Violet And A Rose / Take My Ring From Your Finger / Little Paper Boy / Just When I Needed You / Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes / I Wish I Knew | ||||||||
| 1971 | LP 12" CAPITOL ST-770 (US) |
 |
FREIGHT TRAIN - San Quentin Quail / Fifteen Years Ago / Snowbird / I'll Always Be Waiting For You / Knock Three Times / Freight Train / A Bird With Broken Wings Can't Fly / The Promised Land / Just Wondering Why / Congratulations Anyway | ||||||||
| 1982 | LP 12" SOUNDWAVES SWS 3308 (US) |
 |
JIM & JESSE & CHARLIE - JIM & JESSE & CHARLIE LOUVIN - Teennessee, Until She Said Goodbye / City To City / You're Running Wild / Sweeter Than The Flowers / Don't Let Me Cross Over / Northwind / Too Bad She Don't Love Me / Showboat Gambler / When I Stop Dreaming | ||||||||
| 1993 | CD BEAR FAMILY BCD 15716 (D) |
 |
BLUEGRASS AND MORE - Complete Epic recordings | ||||||||
| 03/1999 | 4 CD PINECASTLE PRC-9001 (US) |
 |
THE OLD DOMINION MASTERS :
|
© Rocky Productions 15/05/2011
