About Jim
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Born in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, Jim Lloyd now makes his home in Rural Retreat, where he operates Lloyd's Barber Shop, a local gathering spot for collecting and trading tunes, stories, and songs. His musical roots extend back through at least four generations of fiddlers, guitar players, dancers, and singers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Jim is known especially for his skills on guitar and banjo. He has won prizes for many years in both guitar and banjo competitions at notable fiddler's conventions such as Galax and Fiddler's Grove. He shares his heritage not only by performing, but also as a teacher to many local students ranging from ages 6 to 70. He has taken his knowledge and talents to music camps such as the Augusta Heritage Festival, the Swannanoa Gathering, and Camp Holiday Lake, as well as holding workshops in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Minnesota, and England. |
Jim has performed at many regional shows, as well as West Virginia's Mountain Stage, Seedtime on the Cumberland (Appalshop), the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, and the Minnesota Old-Time and Bluegrass Festival.
In addition to recording with Mountain Fling, Jim has two solo recording projects and has also performed on numerous recordings by other musician friends. Jim has also produced several projects of traditional music to help expose unique sounds that are often overlooked. One such recording is "Season's Greetings from a Small Town," which features 10 acts, all connected with Rural Retreat. Another recent effort showcases many different banjo styles from Virginia and North Carolina.