Jesse McReynolds obit

Bluegrass Pioneer Jesse McReynolds Dead at 93

 

He was not on the list.

Jesse McReynolds, a bluegrass pioneer and — for more than five decades — mandolin player for Jim & Jesse, died on Friday afternoon (June 23), weeks after falling ill.

His wife, Joy McReynolds, shared the news on her Facebook page. She'd been updating fans, friends and family there since earlier this year when — per Bluegrass Today — he had a heart scare that required a pacemaker. He'd been in assisted living for three months since until he returned home on June 4, but in recent days, he took a turn for the worse.

"Jesse passed peacefully with me at his bedside at 3:58 PM today," Joy shares.

The Grand Ole Opry also recognized his passing.

McReynolds had been a member of the Opry for nearly 60 years, making him one of the most senior members. He performed regularly until 2020, but he was spotted most often with his brother and duo partner, Jim McReynolds.

The two men released more than a dozen bluegrass albums between 1962 and 1982, and several before Jim's 2002 death after a cancer battle. They became members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1993 and enjoyed accolades with several other groups, including the IBMA.

Several days ago, Bluegrass Today reported McReynolds was ill and encouraged those who knew him to reach out via Joy's Facebook page. The website notes his importance to the genre and what his loss means.

"Thanks for all the music and memories, Jesse," the Opry tweets. "We love and miss you."

McReynolds was born in Coeburn, Va. on July 9, 1929. The boys grew up in a family steeped in traditional mountain music. This background made it natural for them to follow in the footsteps of their grandfather Charlie McReynolds, who was one of the first to record for RCA in Bristol, Va. in 1927. He and Jim started playing together about 1947 as The McReynolds Brothers."

Four years later, Jesse and Jim, joined by Larry Roll on guitar, to make their first recordings, 10 gospel songs for Kentucky Records under the name "The Virginia Trio".

By the following year, Jim and Jesse signed a deal with Capitol Records. It was while they were at Capitol that they changed their name to Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. They recorded 20 songs for Capitol over three sessions in 1952, 1953 and 1955. With Jesse serving with the U.S. Army in Korea, they recorded sessions while he was on leave.

Jim and Jesse continued to perform and release albums until Jim's death from cancer in 2002. They recorded for various labels including: Columbia, Epic, again for Capitol, Opryland, CMH, Rounder and their own, Old Dominion. In 1960, their first single for Columbia, "The Flame of Love" backed by "Gosh I Miss You All The Time" was on the national charts. "Cotton Mill Man," "Diesel On My Tail," "Are You Missing Me" and "Paradise" are a few Jim & Jesse's key songs.

Jesse continued playing after his brother's passing as a solo artist and continued doing concerts as well. In 2010, he released "Songs of the Grateful Dead: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter."

Jim and Jesse became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964. Jesse continued as a member in the Opry. He became the oldest standing Opry member in March 2020 following the death of Jan Howard.

Their honors include induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame's "Walkway of Stars," the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, IBMA's Hall of Honor and Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Individually and collectively they garnered many Grammy nominations. They also received the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, presented by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jane Alexander at the The White House in 1997.