Jim Buchanan, 85, professional fiddler and friend to all, passed away March 5 in Nashville following a period of declining health. Born January 1, 1941, he grew up in Drexel, a small western North Carolina town. Jim was the son of old-time fiddler Clato “Buck” Buchanan, who played with Roy Hall & His Blue Ridge Entertainers in Roanoke as a tenor banjo player in the 1930s. Buck taught his son to play fiddle. As a kid, Jim was influenced by the fiddling of Benny Martin, and later by Howdy Forrester.
In his youth, Jim first began performing alongside his father before honing his skills further with Joe Franklin & the Mimosa Boys on the weekends, and Kathryn Siphers at Drexel High School throughout the week. At age 12, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show as drummer with Franklin.
A dynamic fiddler, Jim relocated to Nashville to pursue a career in music and was best known for his work with Jim & Jesse as part of the Virginia Boys. He was also a member of The Greenbriar Boys (Frank Wakefield, John Herald, Bob Yellin) in New York, and recorded a couple of albums with them. In 1982, Jim recorded on Here Today, a landmark album, with Vince Gill, Herb Pederson, Emory Gordy, Jr., and David Grisman. Jim also worked with Tompall & the Glaser Brothers, Mel Tillis & the Statesiders, and George Jones.
As a studio musician, Jim’s credits included albums with Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Millsap, Barbara Mandrell, Ringo Starr, the Doors, and many others. In 1992, he played on an album called Bluegrass Reunion with Red Allen, David Grisman, Herb Pederson, Jerry Garcia, and others. In 1995, formed his own band called The Jim Buchanan System, and released one album under that name. An ordained minister, he also traveled to churches, playing his fiddle and sharing his testimony.
Many from the bluegrass community mourned Jim’s passing, and reflected on his career.
Ron Shuffler, North Carolina bassist, Drexel neighbor and classmate, recalled…
“I actually tried to call Jim a couple weeks ago and had to leave a message. He was in the hospital then. COPD was his biggest health issue.
Jim was raised about 500 yards from where Laura and I have lived for 35 years. He and I went to Drexel School. He was probably three years ahead of me. Mom and Dad had an open door policy. Jim and his dad would come jam and twin fiddle in our home. A lot of great musicians came through our living room. I got to sit there and sing and play with some of the greatest, and Jim was one of them.
He played with a local guy named Joe Franklin. Joe was more of a country artist than bluegrass and Jimmy played drums with him as much as he played fiddle. He played drums with him on the Ed Sullivan Show. I saw the show. We knew he was going to be on and after church on Sunday night, some of the neighbors came, and we all crowded around the TV to see Jimmy.
After that, he went with Jim & Jesse. That was his first major ride. He would bring Allen Shelton home with him when he was in the band and we would go up to Jim’s house and jam. Once he brought Bobby Thompson, the great banjo picker who played on Hee-Haw. Then he went with Mel Tillis and they had an awesome band. They had three fiddles: he, Hoot Hester, and Kenny Sears. Then he went with George Jones (for ten years until his musical retirement).
I saw him twice when he came home and did shows with Tony Rice. One was in Black Mountain. Without rehearsing, Jimmy stepped in and did the whole show and it was outrageous. Then he did another one with Tony in Maggie Valley at the Stomping Ground for their Sunday concert series and it was great.
Jimmy was always a dear friend and a local boy done good. He was a friend of my family and we would stay in touch. I can’t say enough good things about him. We will miss him. He was a great one.”
Vince Gill remembered Jimmy well.
“I first met Jimmy when he was playing with Mel Tillis in 1981. I’d become friends with Paul Franklin, the great steel guitar player, who was playing with Mel at the same time. I went to see them when I was living out in California and we met. Then I had the good fortune to get to make a record with Jimmy, David Grisman, Herb Pedersen, Emory Gordy, and myself. He came over to the house and we had rehearsals. We traveled around a good bit together and did some road gigs. We would cross paths over the years when he was playing with George Jones, or whatever knucklehead hillbilly who needed a fiddle player. He was always a good hand and a good man. I really thought a lot of Jim.”
Herb Pedersen agreed.
“He was special. A good man, great fiddle player, and had many great stories regarding Jim & Jesse. We recorded the Here Today album ‘live’ in 1984 in Hollywood, CA. I miss him already.”
Carl Jackson also expressed his thoughts.
“Jim was not only a great bluegrass fiddler, but comfortable in any genre. He traveled many years with Mel Tillis, George Jones, and other country giants, but was first known to me for his work with Jim & Jesse, especially on the albums Bluegrass Special and Bluegrass Classics. His solo on Standing On The Mountain is sheer genius, and the fiddle answers to J&J’s vocals on Drifting and Dreaming are as lonesome as it gets.
When I joined Jim & Jesse at fourteen, Jim Buchanan was a fiddle god to me. I’m blessed to have worked with him at such a young age, and to have remained dear friends for all these many years that followed.”
Jeremy Stephens shared some of the fiddler’s chronology…
“Jimmy, as we always called him, was known in bluegrass and country music as an amazingly talented fiddler, but we got to know him very personally over the years. We documented his career in 2012-13.”
…and shared some details of Buchanan’s musical legacy.
“In 1959, Arthur Smith in Charlotte offered Jimmy a job as a drummer. He is on some of Arthur Smith’s LPs. Arthur also knew his skill on the fiddle. In 1965, Arthur was doing a project with Don Reno and pulled Jimmy in to do fiddle. That’s Reno’s Mr. Five String album.
Jimmy started with Jim & Jesse right after Vasser Clements left in the early ’60s. He played the Newport Folk Festival with them which was a pretty major deal.
Jimmy went to seminary in Clarksville when he was working for Mel in the ’70s. He felt the Lord was calling him into the ministry. Few folks in the music knew that Jimmy was also an ordained minister. He married me and Corrina in 2014.
Our dear friend and musical hero passed away peacefully in his sleep. He knew the LORD Jesus personally, and that’s WHO he is with today. Our deepest condolences and love to his sweet wife, Lynda, and all of their children.”
Mike Scott also shared some memories.
“I’ve been a fan of Jim Buchanan since I first heard him playing on some of Jim & Jesse’s original recordings when I was about 10 years old. Little did I know then that I would eventually move to Nashville, become a banjo player for Jim & Jesse, and gain not only a musical colleague, but a 43-year friendship with Jim. I was also honored to have him play fiddle on my Foggy Mountain Breakdown release.
Jim once said his motto was that ‘people should feel his music as well as hear it,’ and he certainly lived up to that. His rhythm, tone, volume, and articulation were remarkable. He had an incredible bow arm.
He was also fun to travel with. His humor and laughter were as big as his music. Jim will long be remembered as a kind-hearted and talented multi-genre fiddler and violinist, whose playing truly moved people.”
Don Rigsby also offered his praise for Buchanan.
“This gentleman was the absolute real deal! Portrait of a professional fiddler. A veteran of stage and studio, equally adept in either setting. His recordings with Jim & Jesse in the 1960s are textbook material that is still studied, but never imitated because it can’t be duplicated. And more importantly, he came up with it!
I had the occasion to visit with him a few times and would have liked to have known him a lot better. He was genuinely nice. I am confident that his legacy is secure through all of his friends and recorded work. He’ll never be forgotten. If he’s not in the fiddle players Hall of Fame, he certainly should be as well as the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Rest peacefully. Jim Buchanan. Well done!”
Despite his fame and accolades, Jim remained grounded and devoted to his community and family. In his later years, he found great joy in playing the fiddle at his church on Sunday mornings, sharing his love of music with those around him. He will be remembered for his warmth, kindness, and the indelible mark he left on the world of music. His legacy lives on through his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched through his art.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Sossoman Funeral Home in Morganton, NC. The graveside service will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Burke Memorial Park there in Morganton. There will also be a celebration of life on April 11, 2026 in Franklin, TN.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a music education charity or scholarship of your choice, honoring Jim’s lifelong passion for music.
R.I.P., Jim “Jimmy” Buchanan.
