Such strong accolades coming from Station Inn owner J. T. Gray provides convincing proof that Jim Lauderdale has, deservedly, built up a large fan base in the bluegrass community in recent years. While much of his song writing success has come from mainstream country, he has always held traditional bluegrass on high regard. In turn, much of his recent musical success has come from the bluegrass field, including winning a prestigious Grammy award.

Raised in the Carolinas by a minister father and a mother who was a choir director, traditional music always played as much of a role in shaping his musical taste as did groups such as The Beatles. “I was in the fifth or sixth grade when the movie Bonnie and Clyde came out and ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’ just floored me. It was one of those jaw-dropping things. Around that time I discovered Buck Owens, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette as well.” Jim even­tually purchased a banjo and…

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