Jesse McReynolds


Jesse Lester McReynolds is an American bluegrass musician. He is best known for his innovative crosspicking and split-string styles of mandolin playing.

Biography

McReynolds was born in Coeburn, Virginia. He and his brother Jim begin performing together in or around 1947. They originally performed under the name, "The McReynolds Brothers." In 1951, Jesse and Jim, joined by Larry Roll on guitar, made their first recording, ten gospel songs for Kentucky Records under the name "The Virginia Trio". In 1952, Jim and Jesse signed with Capitol Records, who asked them to change their name from the "McReynolds Brothers," so they started recording under the name "Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys.". They recorded 20 songs for Capitol over three sessions in 1952, 1953, and 1955. During this time, Jesse also served in the US Army in Korea. While serving in Korea, he and Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers formed a band called the "Dusty Roads Boys" and played regular concerts for other troops. After Jesse's return from Korea, Jim and Jesse continued to perform and release albums until Jim's death from cancer in 2002. McReynolds is married to his wife, Joy.
Since 2002, Jesse has continued to perform and record as a solo artist. McReynolds plays between 60 and 70 shows each year. Jim and Jesse became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964; Jesse continues to maintain the duo's Opry membership since Jim's death in 2001. He became the oldest standing Opry member in March of 2020, following the death of fellow Opry member Jan Howard. In 2019, he celebrated his 55th anniversary as a member of the Opry. In January 2017 he appeared on the CMT network show Nashville as a blind singer who inspires the character Rayna Jaymes.

Honors

YearAlbumGroupNotes
1951The Virginia Trio 1951: Their Early Gospel Recordings ; Sacred Songs of The Virginia Trio The Virginia Trio or James and Jesse McReynolds with Larry RollTen songs originally recorded as singles for the Kentucky label, later released as a single album by Ultrasonic and Old Dominion.
1952,1954,195520 Great Songs by Jim and Jesse ; First Sounds: The Capitol Years ; Jim and Jesse: 1952-1955 ; Jim and Jesse: Best of the Early Years Jim and JesseThe duo recorded 20 songs for Capitol in three sessions. These songs have been released under various album names.
1958Best of the Best: Legendary Bluegrass Duets Jim and Jesse14 singles recorded for Starday and released on various compilations but not released together until 2003
1960Bluegrass Special/Bluegrass Classics Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
1962Radio Shows Jim and Jesse and the Virginia BoysRecordings of several of Jim and Jesse's radio shows on WBAM
1963Country Music & Bluegrass at Newport Various artistsLive recording from 1963 Newport Folk Festival; four tracks from Jim and Jesse
unknown The Old Country Church Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
unknown Y'all Come! Bluegrass Humor with Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys Jim and Jesse and the Virginia BoysNot to be confused with Y'all Come: The Essential Jim and Jesse, a greatest hits album released later
unknown Berry Pickin' In the Country Jim and Jesse and the Virginia BoysA cover album of Chuck Berry songs
unknown Sing Unto Him a New Song Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
unknown Diesel on My Tail Jim and Jesse
1968The All-Time Great Country Instrumentals Jim and Jesse
1968-9The Soft Parade The DoorsJesse plays mandolin on this Doors album
1969Saluting the Louvin Brothers Jim and Jesse
1969We Like Trains Jim and Jesse
1971Freight Train Jim and Jesse
1972The Jim & Jesse Show Jim and Jesse
1972Mandolin Workshop Jesse McReynolds
1973Superior Sounds of Bluegrass Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
1973Me and My Fiddles Jesse McReynolds
1973Bean Blossom Various ArtistsLive recording of the 7th Annual Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival; includes five tracks from Jim and Jesse
1974Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
1975The Jim & Jesse Show - Live in Japan Jim and Jesse
1976Songs About Our Country Jim and Jesse
1976Allen Shelton - Shelton Special Allen SheltonJesse plays backup for this solo album by Allen Shelton, long time banjo player in the Virginia Boys
1977Palace of Songs Jim and Jesse
1979Songs of Inspiration Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
1981Master of Bluegrass Bill MonroeJesse played on two of the tracks on this album, "Melissa's Waltz for J.B." and "Lady of the Blue Ridge"
1983Homeland Harmony Jim and Jesse
1986Somewhere My Love Jesse McReynoldsThis was a solo effort by Jesse playing both mandolin and lead guitar, with a backup band that did not include Jim
1990The Masters The MastersOne of two albums released by the bluegrass super group The Masters that toured together in the late 80s and early 90s
1990Saturday Night Fish Fry The Masters
1993Honor the King of Country Music, Roy Acuff Jim and JesseThis album is sometimes referred to as "Tribute to Roy Acuff"
2001Masters of the MandolinBobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds
2010Songs of the Grateful Dead: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia and Robert HunterJesse McReynolds and Friends