Jim Lloyd - The Ghost of Virginia
  • The Ghost of Virginia
  • She’s Got the Money Too
  • Bottle of Wine
  • Happy Together
  • 05EastTennesseeBlues.mp3
  • I’m a Believer
  • I Fought the Law
  • Silver Bell
  • Midnight Special
  • Walkin’ Boss
  • And When I Die
  • The Devil’s Right Hand
  • The Ghost of Virginia
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (03:28) [7.92 MB]
  • She’s Got the Money Too
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (02:56) [6.71 MB]
  • Bottle of Wine
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (03:08) [7.18 MB]
  • Happy Together
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (02:50) [6.5 MB]
  • 05EastTennesseeBlues.mp3
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (03:04) [7 MB]
  • I’m a Believer
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (02:30) [5.71 MB]
  • I Fought the Law
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (03:08) [7.17 MB]
  • Silver Bell
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (01:45) [4.01 MB]
  • Midnight Special
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (02:58) [6.78 MB]
  • Walkin’ Boss
    Genre: (Choose a Genre)
    MP3 (02:12) [5.02 MB]
  • And When I Die
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (02:51) [6.51 MB]
  • The Devil’s Right Hand
    Genre: Bluegrass
    MP3 (03:05) [7.04 MB]
Biography
I first met Jim Lloyd at Galax fiddlers’ convention a few years ago. and was caught off guard by seeing a clawhammer player playing Will Keys licks on a REALLY nice Pre WWII gold plated Gibson Mastertone resonator banjo. The stereotype, for whatever reason, has been that clawhammer players use open backed banjos with no resonator and bluegrass banjo players use closed back banjos with a resonator. Why and where that started, I’m not sure, but Jim gets a great deal of tone, volume, dynamics, and clarity out of his resonator style banjos that he uses, and that’s why upon our first meeting I introduced myself. Almost immediately, Jim and I started jamming with each other right on the spot. He and I are a lot alike in that we like playing melodies and working out arrangements to songs that aren’t usually considered “banjo tunes,” on the banjo.

Jim Lloyd will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t want to be grouped and confined into one category or genre, and this record has something for everyone on it. Starting with old mountain ballads, and songs about ghost trains and coal mining. There are couple of traditional instrumental standards mixed in with Will Keys influences such as Silver Bell and East Tennessee Blues, the latter I was honored to get to record with Jim. This helps demonstrate the differences between the two common banjo styles. Jim differentiates these two styles by naming them, “The right way and the wrong way… ; )” Since it’s his album, I’ll give him a free pass on that one!

Then you have some good old fashioned honest to goodness country thumb style guitar on the Merle Travis classic, “Midnight Special.” I really enjoy this tune, because I grew up hearing folks in my hometown play this style of guitar. Jim puts his own flair to this one, not trying to be a note for note copy of Travis’s version and putting his own style and musical influence into the solos.

Lastly come the tunes that you might not expect to hear on an album like this… Starting with American rock band ‘The Turtles’ 1967 hit, “Happy Together,” The Monkees 1966 hit, “I’m a Believer,” and lastly the Sonny Curtis penned, “I’ve Fought the Law.” Jim has managed to arrange these tunes that are more well known to the non-folk music audiences, and they work out quite nicely for clawhammer banjo.

Lincoln Hensley
14
  • Members:
  • Sounds Like:
  • Influences:
    Will Keyes, Uncle Dave Macon
  • AirPlay Direct Member Since:
    12/27/24
  • Profile Last Updated:
    02/09/25 10:23:12

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