Jim Mills: Banjo Man | PBS North Carolina

(From 2012) North Carolina native Jim Mills was one of the most accomplished bluegrass banjo pickers in the world. He literally wrote the book on Flathead 5-string Gibson pre-war banjos.
Credits:
Produced and Edited by David Huppert
Shot by Keith Blatz
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[@HarryStoneDotCom]

RIP Jim, you were the best custodian and the most sublime picker. Losing you hurts a lot. God bless you.

[@utubewillyman]

RIP, Jim. You will be missed by very many.

[@matthewweaver5610]

RIP Jim. Your smile.and kindness to many will never be forgotten. 🙏

[@Mason_bluegrass]

Rest in peace

[@poppybear888]

Oh no…rest in peace Jim Mills. I’ve seen pretty much every video you’ve been in on KZbin. Your legacy will indeed live on as one of the best banjo players of all time ❤

[@ifolkinrock]

Rest in Power, Jim 😢

[@ulrichfriehe3459]

RIP ole boy, you've been the best.

[@kenmcfarlane7534]

RIP JIM.

[@JamesJonesII-ki2vw]

Rest in Peace JIm, I’m so sorry n gonna miss you Real bad!

[@anthonyblackwell2059]

RIP Mr. Jim Mills. ☹️

[@highplains7777]

"The harder I work the luckier I get." Good advice.

[@badpete3497]

You brightened the world Jim one of my lifes regrets was not sticking with my guitar lessons.

[@DaphneHarridge]

Jim, you will be greatly missed. 😢

[@MrRontac]

Thanks Jim for all you`ve done in the world of the 5-string banjo !!!!! With all the awards and accomplishments you have still remained down to earth and an all around great guy .... Again thanks

[@daveandrews6670]

It,s great to hear that Foggy Mountain Breakdown was the inspiration to so many banjo players,I no when I herd it,it was the best thing and best sounding instrument I had ever herd.

[@teakbridge101]

These are the kind of Americans who need to be leading America. They defined us, and still defined us.

[@mackinbox]

Yes-the banjo players

[@leafforever9174]

Who are the 20 that put the thumbs down. Beyond me. He has that same right hand drive Earl had. Amazing player...

[@josephbell9982]

Love your videos I have watched some of them many times always pickup new ideas,also watch videos made by Richie Dodson I believe he is a friend of yours. I am 85 years an still trying to teach myself Banjo.

[@teakbridge101]

Best sounding banjo tone I have ever heard since Earl Scruggs. Knows how to set-up banjos, knows how to pick banjos, knows how to buy banjos. Best!

[@skunkbreath2805]

A man that does what he loves will stay busy loving what he does and is bound to find happiness!

[@Gonefishing185]

Ralph Stanley’s “Big Tilda” can be heard at about 3:52 , and during the song we can see a prewar Gibson arch top probably similar or identical to Ralph Stanley’s. It’s nice to hear Ralph’s music

[@ztahs]

Jim is absolutely one of the best. Fast, clean and very tasteful.

[@BanjoEarth]

What a beautiful guy! So simple, rich, and profound. And one of the best banjo pickers ever! Thank you Jim!

[@JoeBonsall]

Jim Mills... BANJO HERO.... If i could play like ANYONE it would be him!!! Great piece

[@darrellkidd5177]

Joe, you're no slouch on the banjo yourself. And that group you sing with has done pretty well ;)

[@stevendoughman8863]

Totally an awesome banjo picker I met him years ago and he used to play with Doyle Lawson and then I saw him again at Cincinnati Taft theater and he remembered me I would love to go to a shop in North Carolina and see him again and play a tune with him it would surely be an honor

[@mikejaques6573]

I remember playing on this station in the early 90s with Ed Whaley good ole days Jim MIlls is great

[@1believeriam]

Just browsing KZbin tonight after church, I came across this video. I am glad I did. At about 4m 45s, Jim is talking about a banjo previously owned by my uncle. Then there is a picture of my other uncle holding the banjo. I always enjoyed hearing Billy play that banjo in and around Camp Creek :)

[@banjomandotnet4178]

finally a teaching video i enjoyed watching all the way thru. I never get tired of listening and seeing Gibson banjos, especially the pre-war ones...

[@banjomandotnet4178]

he's had a good career, and a smooth pickr. i'm guessing maggie valley, martin guitar, not hard to figure u play some of this same stuff? i had the bad luck of never knowing musicians growing up and at oakhurst elementary we were given the choice of either clarinet or violin, of course I thot violin was sissy , my first mistake, then when i was twenty, i fell for the bluegrass music wished i'd played the fiddle ever since but i love the banjo i played it instead. i have two good violins and play them to spark my interest in music theory. the banjo never did that it was just fun to play.

[@Boudleaux]

This was fantastic! Thank you for posting!

[@NatePlays9]

RIP Jimmy.

[@sonshinesmuscadines]

one day I WILL BUY ONE OF YOUR BANJOS FOR SURE WITH KEITH D-TUNERS ALREADY INSTALLED LOVE YOUR STYLE I HAD THE SAME SCRUGGS ALBUM AND YES FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN I COULD ALMOST TASTE IT WHEN I HEARD IT PLAY

[@eclay9139]

I gotta get down there and meet this guy luckily I'm not far from him in va...he's def by far my fave banjo player

[@plucknpick6414]

I guess the Lord needed another Banjo Picker in the Fathers House jam...

[@Myra1959]

There will be a talent show at my job. I haven't signed up yet. I was undecided on which banjo song to played. But after watching Jim Mills playing of Cumberland Gap, I am going to pick this song to play in June if I sign up soon. Myra From up yonder in The Bronx, New York City

[@Myra1959]

Love his hard driven banjo pickin.

[@robbiebeck22]

Best banjo player I've ever heard.

[@Tsalagi46]

You are a great banjo picker that's for sure. My husband is playing banjo , he's got a deering. He is still learning.

[@ZachAlvisMusic]

Holy crap. I live like 5 minutes from Camp Creek! Thats so awesome!

[@PLINKER]

I also have a large collection of Flat & Scruggs albums from way back. I always wanted a better banjo, but you know the cost of Mastertones, they always have been a bit pricey even back years ago. That's what made me start to make banjos and repair them. Great video. Tom P.S. I'm holding an appalachian can style banjo. I just made for a friend.

[@michaelangelo9024]

One of the best pickers out there. Eric Ellis and Kruger too

[@SnookiePookums9]

It is said that in this world, there are but three things upon which we can unfailingly depend: death, taxes, and Jim Mills' right hand.

[@Copastheman1]

Jim, which 2 banjos that you have played, whether your on or not, do you condsider are the best?

[@sfwaddell]

Jim what kind of head are you using on your banjos generally? They sound a bit like a fiberskyn or is it just the banjo's tone?

[@Knappist]

Soon as I win the Lottery I will got to see Jim and get a pre-war Gibson, wonder if he will take my RB 250 in part ex 😳

[@BATENKILL]

No it's his old gold plated Mack Crowe original 5 string RB -75, Kind of a all original parts banjo if that makes sense

[@banjobailey1849]

Rip jimmy mills

[@BATENKILL]

Oh sorry, I thought you ment the first banjo, yea that looks like an old 6 Checkerboard with the archtop ring

[@adamynnpoindexterdunkley3791]

did jim eakes show you how to do that

[@brianwells4507]

RIP Banjo "god"!

[@jimmydorightful]

its a checkerboard style 6

[@minnesotaoutdoorsnorth]

Hello jim, gary in mn. here...if I may ask what banjo mfg strap are you wearing? looks like a Huber... or maybe a Lakota? I thought you would have a cradle but I see it is a non-cradle.. looks like burgundy also.. where did you buy this? all I can find is the 2.0" - 3.0" I like your smaller width you have like 3/4" thanks, Gary

[@haroldmorton7592]

Please tell me the name of the song and and who sang it ,! Husband and wife , : sit downI can’t sit down I just got to heaven and got to walk right

[@waynekeen6294]

Don't know the name of the song but I saw video of Wade Mainer and wife singing it

[@jhonsonrly]

whats the first song he plays?

[@jeffsmith673]

cumberland gap

[@webadage]

I have a 2004 Gibson Mastertone RB250 for sale if anyone's interested.

[@banjoman2104]

i am the banjoman!

[@rockgardenlove]

FIRE UP THE CHEESE MACHINE

[@joeybologny6746]

Paddle faster, I hear banjos!

[@jimmydorightful]

no 800s in that house

[@mikebastiat]

Killer

[@merlynschutterle7242]

But that is the problem with the pre war Gibsons. They are only for the elite. What a snob bunch of musicians. I always like Bobby Thompson's banjo. It is what the musician can make of a banjo that makes it sound good.

[@rogerdvorak6045]

Merlyn Schutterle Check out Huber Banjos, They are the best ones made today and they are affordable.

[@robbiebeck22]

Jimmy Mills - a snob?!?! Are you serious?!?! Have you ever spoken with him -or seen him play? He's one of the nicest men I've ever observed.

[@merlynschutterle7242]

+Robert Beck I didn't say Mills was a snob. Have you tried to buy one? Who buys them? Just like Jim said, they are bought by doctors and lawyers.

[@45locokid]

I bought two banjos from Mr. Jim Mills. Let me tell you, it was very affordable. He is such a nice man and will work with you. I am currently making payments to him for one of the banjos. It's an experience going there and buying the banjos are no more expensive than a stelling, huber, ome, etc. Actually, it is cheaper because you get so much more. You get anything original that came with the banjo when he bought it. From the case to a loose string in the case. It's all yours when you buy it. :) If you are serious about good sound and have an ear to enjoy those banjos, the price will work itself out. Like it did for me :)

[@merlynschutterle7242]

Dr. Jim Rae, inventor of the Huber HR30 tone ring, claims that not all pre war banjos are that good, but the really good ones are super. You should see his herd of banjos. He has one of the Deering gold plated, custom engraved ones that only 10 were made. He also claims that there are some Gibsons made in the 80's that were outstanding and two of them are here in Rochester MN. He happens to be a good friend of mine and gave me a new Jim Rae custom by Huber. It's hard to go back to my old ones. The R in HR30 is for Jim Rae, and was developed in his lab. Him was research engineer at Mayo.