THE JAMES FAMILY BAND
by Janet Worne

Paul James is the patriarch of a Bluegrass-loving family. Paul plays banjo; sons Robin, 29, Paul Jr., 28, Scott, 26, and Daniel, 21, play guitar, upright bass, fiddle and mandolin, respectively. The boy’s mother, Jean, sometimes joins in on vocals and, when the spirit moves her, she dances. Scott sells fiddles, mandolins and other instruments he crafts by hand from wood cut on their farm.

On many weekends, The James Family Band is booked for gigs at area festivals, and other music venues. Their dream is to someday play at the Grand Ole Opry. But for now, they’re content to gather in a semicircle near the fencerow behind their house, fingers flying over strings as their voices blend in five-part harmony.

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