User:Wildjimbo

Music Bio

I started playing banjo in 1977. I'm self taught... the old fashion way - I'm a firm supporter now of the listen and learn approach. I've ruined many records by dancing the needle across trying to hit that particular spot on record.

I soon found myself playing in the FFA Stringband in High School. We played all over Georgia and even had the honor of playing at the FFA National Convention in Kansas City.

I have done assorted session work. While living in Athens, Georgia In the late 80's I even played banjo for the "soundtrack" of a FedEx commercial.

I have played and recorded with the Dalton, Georgia based bluegrass group Shady Hollow. I also played and recorded with Country Comfort.

From the beginning I loved teaching others to play the banjo. I've had as many as 50 students a week. On of the greatest opportunities as a banjo teacher came when some of my articles were accepted and used by Banjo Newsletter. I later had the opportunity to teach at the Maryland Banjo Academy.

While in college in the early 80's I took up playing the clawhammer style of banjo playing. I worked from a book I got from Grandpa Jones. I learned the basics and then spent hours trying to figure out Soldier's Joy from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will The Circle Be Unbroken Album. Years later and many hours of practice I think maybe I finally understand the style. I think all of the effort paid off in 1999 when I won the Old-Time Division at the Georgia State Championship in Hiawassee, Georgia.

I am the 2005 Tennessee Bluegrass Banjo Champion.

I'm currently playing with, quite possibly, some of the best musicians in the world. The Lone Mountain Band, made up of Bobby Burns, Diana Phillips, Roy Curry and myself has been the most fun and challenging group I've ever worked with. I hope to see you at some of our shows!

Yo-Yo Bio

I got my first yo-yo sometime in the late 60's. It was a slimline Russell Championship Model that was used in a McDonald's Restaurant promotion. I really don't recall much about the promotion, but I remember a demonstrator and getting a yo-yo. I was young and not in the habit of getting names and details.

From that point I always remember having a yo-yo of some sort. If I ever misplaced or found myself without one I would make my way to the store and buy something - usually a Duncan of some sort (Imperial, Professional or Butterfly). Limited to what I could find in the local department stores I was basically bound to the "back of the card" tricks found with most yo-yos of the time.

Let's fast forward to 1996. I was shopping with my wife and some friends when I found a shop that had these "new" yo-yos. Some that they had would even return to your hand automatically - Yomega Brains and Fireballs. I bought a SaberWing Fireball and found myself re-addicted to this marvelous toy. Since then my collection of yo-yos has grown from a half dozen to several hundred.

In 1998 I received a Playmaxx Turbo Bumble Bee as a gift. This was my first ball bearing yo-yo. It was also about that time I found the "online" yo-yo community. Through this medium I've met many people involved in yo-yoing and I now find myself more involved than I ever imagined.

I've helped plan and promote the Georgia State Yo-Yo Championships. I've also helped with the Southeast Regional and Worlds Yo-Yo Contest.

From 2002 - 2006 I was on the American Yo-Yo Association Board of Directors.