Jimmy Gaudreau

{{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Jimmy Gaudreau | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = James Arnott Gaudreau | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|07|03}} | birth_place = Wakefield, Rhode Island | origin = | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = bluegrass music, acoustic music, country music | occupation = Musician | instrument = Mandolin | years_active = 1969–present | label = Rounder, Webco, Ridge Runner, Rebel | associated_acts = The Country Gentlemen, Moondi Klein, Elle Mears, Tony Rice Unit, J. D. Crowe and the New South | website = {{URL|jimmygaudreau.com}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''James Arnott “Jimmy” Gaudreau'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/902580230 |title=DOG PAUSE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 26, 2023}}</ref> is a singer and mandolinist playing traditional and progressive bluegrass music. He is best known for his solo albums, and his work with The Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, and J. D. Crowe.

==Biography== ===Early life=== In high school in the '60s, Gaudreau performed as a professional musician, playing electric guitar in his band Jimmy G & the Jaguars. The band played dances and Saturday nights at his uncle's Rhode Island beachfront restaurant.<ref name=JG-musicmakes-2015>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmakeslifebetter.org/blog/2015/7/20/qa-with-jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein|title=Q&A with Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein|work=Music Makes Life Better|accessdate=August 7, 2017|date=August 10, 2015|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511214001/http://musicmakeslifebetter.org/blog/2015/7/20/qa-with-jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the folk boom, Gaudreau became interested in bluegrass music. When he started playing the mandolin, he used guitar fingering techniques, giving him his unique sound.<ref name=JG-mandozine-2017>{{cite web |url=http://www.mandozine.com/media/CGOW/jimmygaudreau.html|title=CGOW: Jimmy Gaudreau|work=MandoZine|accessdate=August 7, 2017}}</ref>

===The Country Gentlemen=== Gaudreau moved to the Washington, DC area from his native Rhode Island in 1969 to become a member of the Country Gentlemen, replacing John Duffey and joining Charlie Waller, Ed Farris, and Eddie Adcock. In his first stint with the band, he contributed to two albums: ''New Look New Sound'' and ''One Wide River''. He rejoined the Gentlemen from 1981 until 1985 to record ''Good as Gold'' (Sugar Hill) and ''Let the Light Shine Down''.<ref name=JG-washpost-1982>{{cite news|last1=Harrington|first1=Richard|title=Still Gents, After 25 Years|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1982/07/04/still-gents-after-25-years/36aadbaa-5125-40d7-9767-ff6d5a76b76d/|accessdate=August 8, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 4, 1982}}</ref>

===The II Generation=== In 1971, Eddie Adcock (banjo) assembled the progressive bluegrass band II Generation with Gaudreau, Bob White (bass), and Wendy Thatcher (guitar).<ref name=JG-adcock-2017>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluegrassmuseum.org/eddie-adcock/|title=Eddie Adcock|work=International Bluegrass Museum|accessdate=August 8, 2017}}</ref> II Generation was known for extended jams, and they called their music "newgrass." They disbanded in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mercer|first1=Dickson |title=The Adcocks: An original blend that's unmistakably bluegrass|url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/the-adcocks-an-original-blend-that-s-unmistakably-bluegrass/article_511b6103-49e7-5d34-a640-10458d823740.html|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=The Frederick News-Post|date=April 27, 2006}}</ref>

===Country Store=== Gaudreau formed Country Store in 1973 with Keith Whitley (guitar), Carl Jackson (banjo), and Bill Rawlings (bass). Later, Jackson was replaced by Jimmy Arnold, and Whitley was replaced by Chris Stifel. They recorded two albums and broke up in 1975.<ref name=JG-encyclopedia-2004>{{cite book |last=Kingsbury|first=Paul|date=December 16, 2004|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music |isbn=978-0-19-984044-1 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsiL49XFbnkC|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=JG-guide-1997>{{cite book |last=Erlewine|first=Michael|date=1997|title=All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music|isbn=9780879304751 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Mo7xm-X1r4C|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref>

===J. D. Crowe and the New South=== Gaudreau was also a member of J. D. Crowe and the New South, with Keith Whitley, Bobby Slone (fiddle), and Mike Gregory (bass).<ref name=JG-dcbg-2017>{{cite web |url=http://dcbu.org/jimmy-gaudreau/|title=An Unlikely Rebel; Jimmy Gaudreau|work=DC Bluegrass Union|accessdate=August 7, 2017|author=Steve Romanoski}}</ref><ref name=JG-crowe-2011>{{cite book |last=Godbey|first=Marty|date=September 1, 2011|title=Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. Crowe|edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARhPpwkyXZQC|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name=JG-crowe-2016>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Richard|title=On This Day #47 – JD Crowe live in Tokyo|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/on-this-day-47/|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=April 18, 2016}}</ref>

===Spectrum=== From 1979 through 1981, Gaudreau was a member of Spectrum with banjoist Béla Fleck and bassist Mark Schatz. They recorded two albums for Rounder Records: ''Too Hot To Handle'' (1982) and ''Live In Japan'' (1983). After this, Gaudreau returned to the Country Gentlemen for his second stint.<ref name=JG-dcbg-2017 /><ref name=JG-newgen-2008>{{cite book |last=Dicaire|first=David|date=Aug 18, 2008|title=The New Generation of Country Music Stars: Biographies of 50 Artists Born After 1940|edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lWQBQAAQBAJ|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref>

===Tony Rice Unit=== Beginning in 1985, Gaudreau was a member of the Tony Rice Unit for 11 years. Besides Rice and Gaudreau, the Unit included Wyatt Rice (guitar), Ronnie Simpkins (bass), and Rickie Simpkins (fiddle).<ref name=JG-npr-2013>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/236293952/tony-rice-on-mountain-stage|title=Tony Rice On Mountain Stage|work=NPR Music|accessdate=August 8, 2017|date=October 17, 2013}}</ref> Gaudreau looked for other opportunities when Rice's vocal problems hinted at an end to the band.<ref name=JG-nodep-2001>{{cite news|last1=Weisberger|first1=Jon|title=Tony Rice Unit - Unit Of Measure|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/tony-rice-unit-unit-measure|accessdate=August 7, 2017|work=No Depression|date=February 28, 2001}}</ref>

===Chesapeake=== In 1992, Chesapeake, featuring Gaudreau, Mike Auldridge, T. Michael Coleman, and Moondi Klein, released three critically acclaimed albums on the Sugar Hill label. With no banjo, they were more acoustic country than bluegrass. Chesapeake disbanded in 1999 when their contract with Sugar Hill ended.<ref name=JG-musicmakes-2015 /><ref name=JG-dcbg-2017 />

===Auldridge, Bennett & Gaudreau=== Out of the Chesapeake experience came a trio with Auldridge, Gaudreau, and guitarist Richard Bennett.<ref name=JG-washpost-2001>{{cite news|last1=Himes|first1=Geoffrey |title=Auldridge, Bennett & Gaudreau, Blue Lonesome Wind|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/08/24/auldridge-bennett-gaudreau-b/a4cad12d-6027-4607-be8e-0fa7d87c42e6/|accessdate=August 1, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 24, 2001}}</ref> This group released two albums: ''Blue Lonesome Wind'' and This Old Town.<ref name=JG-dcbg-2017 />

===Young Mando Monsters=== In 1994, Gaudreau produced ''Mandolin Artistry: Vol 1.: Young Mando Monsters'', an album showcasing Ronnie McCoury, Adam Steffey, Radim Zenkl, Emory Lester, Wayne Benson, Dan Tyminski, Raymond Legere, and Alan Bibey.<ref name=JG-mandozine-2017 />

===Solo recordings=== Gaudreau's solo career includes ''The Mandolin Album'' on Puritan Records. ''In Good Company'' on CMH Records in 2006 collects tracks from Gaudreau's career, with Tony Rice, Eddie Adcock, and Charlie Waller, among others.<ref name=JG-cafe-2017>{{cite web |url=https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/printer_264.shtml|title=Jimmy Gaudreau - In Good Company|work=Mandolin Cafe|accessdate=August 7, 2017}}</ref>

===The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band=== As The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band, Gaudreau with Randy Waller (son of Charlie Waller), Eddie Adcock, and Tom Gray recorded one album in 2008.<ref name=JG-cgrb-2008>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Richard |title=Country Gentlemen Reunion Band|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/country-gentlemen-reunion-band-cd/|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=April 10, 2008}}</ref>

===Carolina Star=== Gaudreau joined Carolina Star with leader John Starling (guitar) and bandmates Mike Auldridge (resonator guitar), Rickie Simpkins (fiddle), Tom Gray (bass), Larry Stephenson (mandolin), and Jon Randall (guitar).<ref name=JG-lonesome-2007>{{cite news|last1=Morgan Davis|first1=Maria|title="Slidin' Home" by John Starling and Carolina Star|url=http://lonesomeroadreview.com/slidin-home-by-john-starling-and-carolina-star/|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=The Lonesome Road Review|date=December 10, 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===The Fine Group=== Gaudreau joined Robin and Linda Williams and Jim Watson as part of the Fine Group for several years.

===Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein=== When Chesapeake split up, Gaudreau and vocalist Moondi Klein began to play the occasional show. This led to their 2008 album ''2:10 Train'',<ref name=JG-vintage-2008>{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Steven|title=Jimmy Gaudreau – 2:10 Train|url=https://www.vintageguitar.com/4623/jimmy-gaudreau-210-train-2/|accessdate=August 7, 2017|work=Vintage Guitar|date=July 1, 2008}}</ref> followed by ''Home From the Mill''<ref name=JG-bgtoday-2012>{{cite news|last1=Curtis Goad|first1=John|title=Home from the Mills – Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/home-from-the-mills-jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein/|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=August 20, 2012}}</ref> and then ''If I Had A Boat'', all released on Rebel Records.<ref name=JG-unlimited-2015>{{cite web|url=http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/2015/reviews/jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein-boat/|title=Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein, If I Had A Boat|work=Bluegrass Unlimited|accessdate=August 8, 2017|date=February 1, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811184614/http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/2015/reviews/jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein-boat/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, Gaudreau and Klein toured with Emmylou Harris.<ref name=JG-paste-2008>{{cite news|last1=Hansen|first1=Christina|title=Emmylou Harris prepares for new album, summer tour|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/04/emmylou-harris-prepares-for-new-album-summer-tour.html|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=Paste|date=April 28, 2008}}</ref>

===The Skylighters=== A group of Washington DC area musicians got together for fun in 2006, and decided to record as the Skylighters. The musicians were Gaudreau (mandolin, vocals), Auldridge (resonator guitar), Eric Brace (guitar, vocals), J. Carson Gray (bass), and Martin Lynds (drums, vocals). They played a mixture of bluegrass, western swing, gospel, and honky-tonk music, and recorded one self-titled album on the Red Beet label.<ref name=JG-skylighters-2006>{{cite news|last1=Lawless|first1=John|title=The Skylighters debut CD released|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/the-skylighters-debut-cd-released/|accessdate=August 7, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=November 7, 2006}}</ref>

===Awards=== In 2005, Gaudreau was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America's "Hall of Greats".<ref name=JG-cmt-2005>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1495340/bluegrass-awards-show-set-for-feb-6-in-nashville/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302174354/http://www.cmt.com/news/1495340/bluegrass-awards-show-set-for-feb-6-in-nashville/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2021|title=Bluegrass Awards Show Set for Feb. 6 in Nashville|work=CMT News|accessdate=August 8, 2017|author=Edward Morris|date=January 5, 2005}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Solo albums=== * 1978: ''The Gaudreau Mandolin Album'' (Puritan) * 1989: ''Classic J.A.G.'' (Webco) * 1998: ''Live in Holland'' (as Jimmy Gaudreau's Bluegrass Unit) (Strictly Country Records) * 2006: ''In Good Company'' (CMH) * 2010: ''Pieces and Bits'' (Goose Creek) * 2017: ''Give Us Strength'' (Songside) with Elle Mears

===With The Country Gentlemen=== * 1969: ''New Look, New Sound'' (Rebel) * 1971: ''One Wide River to Cross'' (Rebel) * 1971: ''Sound Off'' (Rebel) * 1983: ''Good as Gold!'' (Sugar Hill)

===With Country Store=== * 1973: ''Country Store Live'' (Ridge Runner) * 1974: ''Country Store'' (Rebel)

===With J. D. Crowe and the New South=== * 1978: ''You Can Share My Blanket'' (Rounder) * 1979: ''My Home Ain't In the Hall of Fame'' (Rounder) * 1979: ''Live in Japan'' (Rounder) released in 1987

===With Spectrum=== * 1980: ''Opening Roll'' (Rounder) * 1981: ''Live in Japan'' (Rounder) * 1982: ''It's Too Hot For Words'' (Rounder)

===With Tony Rice=== * 1986: ''Me And My Guitar'' (Rounder) * 1991: ''Native American'' (Rounder) * 1993: ''Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass'' (Rounder)

===With Chesapeake=== * 1994: ''Rising Tide'' (Sugar Hill) * 1995: ''Full Sail'' (Sugar Hill) * 1997: ''Pier Pressure'' (Sugar Hill)<ref name=JG-carltone-1997>{{cite web|url=http://www.carltone.com/cd-pierpressure.html|title=Pier Pressure - Chesapeake|work=Carltone Music|accessdate=August 8, 2017|author=Larry Carlin|date=December 3, 1997|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809172045/http://www.carltone.com/cd-pierpressure.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2014: ''Hook, Live & Sinker'' (Chesterbury) compilation of live performances<ref name=JG-sinker-2014>{{cite news|title=Chesapeake: Hook, Live & Sinker|url=http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/2014/reviews/chesapeake-hook-live-sinker/|accessdate=August 9, 2017|work=Bluegrass Unlimited|date=September 1, 2014|archive-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810135054/http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/2014/reviews/chesapeake-hook-live-sinker/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===With Auldridge, Bennett, and Gaudreau=== * 1999: ''This Old Town'' (Rebel) * 2001: ''Blue Lonesome Wind'' (Rebel)

===With the Skylighters=== * 2006: ''The Skylighters'' (Red Beet)<ref name=JG-rambles-2006>{{cite web |url=http://www.rambles.net/skylighters_the06.html|title=The Skylighters|work=Rambles.net|accessdate=August 8, 2017|author=Jerome Clark|date=January 27, 2007}}</ref>

===With The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band=== * 2008: ''The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band'' (Radio Therapy)<ref name=JG-std-2008>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=3958|title=Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray: The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band|work=Country Standard Time|accessdate=August 8, 2017|author=Larry Stephens}}</ref>

===With John Starling and Carolina Star=== * 2007: ''Slidin' Home'' (Rebel)<ref name=JG-louisville-2007>{{cite news|last1=Mitchell|first1=Bob|title=It's All in the Voice|url=http://www.louisvillemusicnews.net/webmanager/index.php?WEB_CAT_ID=50&storyid=4092&headline=John_Starling__&_Carolina_Star_-_Slidin%27_Home&issueid=217|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=Louisville Music News|date=March 1, 2007}}</ref>

===With Moondi Klein=== * 2008: ''2:10 Train'' (Rebel)<ref name=JG-special-2008>{{cite news|last1=McGee|first1=David|title=2:10 Train - Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein|url=http://www.thebluegrassspecial.com/archive/2008/april2008/obriengaudreaureviewapril08.php|accessdate=August 8, 2017|work=The Bluegrass Special|date=April 1, 2008}}</ref> * 2012: ''Home from the Mills'' (Rebel)<ref name=JG-stdtime-2012>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4916|title=Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein - Home from the Mills|work=Country Standard Time|accessdate=August 8, 2017 |author=John Lupton}}</ref> * 2014: ''If I Had a Boat'' (Rebel)<ref name=JG-hvba-2014>{{cite web|url=http://www.hvbluegrass.org/articles/reviews/1019-review-jimmy-gaudreau-moondi-klein-if-i-had-a-boat.html|title=Review: Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein - If I Had A Boat|work=Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association|accessdate=August 8, 2017|author=Glen Herbert|date=September 29, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

===With Robin and Linda Williams, and their Fine Group=== * 1993: ''Turn Toward Tomorrow'' (Sugar Hill) * 1996: ''Sugar for Sugar'' (Sugar Hill) * 2004: ''Deeper Waters'' (Red House) * 2005: ''The First Christmas Gift'' (Red House) * 2007: ''Radio Songs'' (Red House) * 2011: ''Stonewall Country: Songs from the Musical'' (Red House)

===With Bill Emerson=== * 1987: ''Tennessee 1949'' (Webco) with Pete Goble * 1987: ''Home of the Red Fox'' (Rebel) * 1989: ''Dixie in My Eye'' (Webco) with Pete Goble * 1990: ''Gold Plated Banjo'' (Rebel) * 1991: ''Reunion'' (Pinecastle / Webco) * 1996: ''Banjo Man'' (Pinecastle / Webco) * 2007: ''Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band'' (Rebel) * 2011: ''Eclipse'' (Rural Rhythm)

===As composer=== * 2005: Phil Leadbetter - ''Slide Effects'' (Pinecastle) - track 6, "Glide Path"

===Also appears on=== * 1977: The Allen Brothers - ''Sweet Rumors'' (Rounder) * 1978: Tim Lake - ''Same Old Roadside Inn'' (Rounder) * 1978: The New Tradition - ''The New Tradition "Live"'' (Red Clay) * 1981: Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, and Béla Fleck - ''Fiddle Tunes for Banjo'' (Rounder) * 1982: Béla Fleck - ''Natural Bridge'' (Rounder) * 1987: Paul Adkins - ''Appalachian Memories'' (Old Homestead) * 1987: Béla Fleck - ''Daybreak'' (Rounder) * 1989: James King - ''It's a Cold, Cold World'' (Webco) * 1994: Emerson & Taylor - ''Appaloosa'' (Webco) * 1995: Steve Huber - ''Pullin' Time'' (Strictly Country Records) * 1998: Richard Bennett - ''A Long Lonesome Time'' (Rebel) * 1999: The Blue Dogs - ''Soul Dogfood'' (Black River) * 2000: various artists - ''Last Day at Gettysburg: Songs About the American Civil War'' (Rebel) * 2001: Bill Clifton - ''Around the World to Poor Valley'' (Bear Family) * 2003: BanjerDan - ''Old Stuff'' (CD Baby) * 2006: Joe Meadows - ''Mountains, Rivers and Meadows'' (Patuxent Music) * 2007: various artists - ''Music of Coal: Mining Songs from the Appalachian Coalfields'' (Condon Music) * 2011: Dave Giegerich - ''It's About Time'' (self-released)

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == * {{URL|jimmygaudreau.com/|Jimmy Gaudreau official website}} * {{URL|jimmyandmoondi.com/|Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein website}} * {{AllMusic | id= jimmy-gaudreau-mn0000357469 | label= Jimmy Gaudreau}} * {{discogs artist|935877-Jimmy-Gaudreau|Jimmy Gaudreau}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaudreau, Jimmy}} Category:1946 births Category:Musicians from Rhode Island Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American bluegrass musicians Category:American bluegrass mandolinists Category:Living people Category:People from Washington County, Rhode Island Category:Country musicians from Rhode Island