Vince Gill plays bluegrass on the Opry
Vince Gill grasses up the Opry (5/17/24) – photo © Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry Vince Gill had a previously scheduled Opry set last Friday evening, and he decided to dedicate it in the memory of the late banjo great, Jim Mills, and pick some grass for the assembled crowd. True fans know […]
Jim Mills passes
Jim Mills, one of the most celebrated banjo players of his generation, and a noted vintage instrument trader, has died of a heart attack at his home in Durham, NC on May 3. He was 57 years of age. Though most bluegrass lovers remember Jim for his 14 years with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, […]
J.D. Crowe remembered in recent interviews
For those of us grieving the loss of blugrass banjo legend J.D. Crowe, who passed away on Christmas Eve, here are a few interviews conducted in recent years that should be both enjoyable and informative. This first was recorded in 2019 with Dan Boner, Director of the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program [...] WRAL TV in Raleigh highlights Jim Mills
Jim Mills - photo by Richie Dotson While an awful lot of bluegrass folks are here in Raleigh, NC this week for World of Bluegrass, one bluegrass hero who lives here year round is banjo maestro Jim Mills, who makes his home in the adjacent city of Durham. Jim worked for many years as the [...] Jim Mills and Henry howl at the moon
Howling at the banjo, I should say. Here's a light-hearted video that should bring you a smile. Avid banjo collector and tradesman Jim Mills is in the habit of shooting a quick video whenever he gets a new instrument in the shop, mostly restored vintage banjos and conversions. This gives interested purchasers a chance to [...] Bryan Sutton video in Raleigh
When Bryan Sutton and his band appeared at the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh, NC last month, he had a surprise guest in tow. Local resident Jim Mills, who had worked with Sutton as a member of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder some years ago, joined the group on stage for some spirited banjo playing. Fortunately, [...] Jim Mills introduces the Clanger
In this video, top picker and prewar banjo enthusiast Jim Mills proudly introduces his latest find, a Gibson Mastertone PB-3 conversion from 1929-30. After giving a brief overview of the banjo's history (almost without taking a breath), Jim goes on to play J.D. Crowe's arrangement of Red River Valley, one Crowe recorded with Jimmy Martin in [...] Jim Mills interviews J.D. Crowe
For fans of Scruggs style banjo playing, there aren't many pickers more esteemed than J.D. Crowe and Jim Mills. Of course, in a relationship between these two, Crowe would be the teacher and Jim the student, though their professional accomplishments are similar. Both are serious followers of Earl Scruggs' music, and have based their own playing [...] Photos, video from Scruggs Center opening
Our Special Bluegrass Correspondent captured some images and video from the grand opening of the Earl Scruggs Center on January 11. [jwplayer player="1" mediaid="56357"] Earl Scruggs Center opens in a deluge
Over one thousand fans of the five-string gathered in Shelby, North Carolina on Saturday, January 11, 2014 to experience the grand opening of the Earl Scruggs Center. Despite pouring rain that moved several events that had been scheduled to take place on the courthouse square into neighboring buildings, the day was still a fine tribute [...] 