Jim Lauderdale is an icon in North Carolina’s bluegrass and Americana scene. He’s the consummate entertainer and has played IBMA nearly every year it’s been in Raleigh.
Jim is no stranger to the Piedmont of North Carolina. He was born in Troutman, North Carolina and attended Carolina Friends School in Durham and later studied theater at UNC School for the Arts in Winston Salem. Jim has travelled the world with his music, and is now living in Nashville, but North Carolina is home.
“When I travel through North Carolina, especially when I drive through Iredell County where I was born and have lived, I turn off the radio and news and just try to soak in the atmosphere,” said Jim in an interview with the North Carolina Arts Council. “I think that there is something special in the different regions of North Carolina that spur creativity and make your imagination go some place.”
George Strait said “…Jim Lauderdale is a consummate entertainer, a sharp dressed man as well, a terrific songwriter and great singer.”
Jim has won multiple Grammy Awards in and around Country Music. His long time friendship with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter is the stuff of legends. The two were frequent collaborators and cowrote songs like “Patchwork River” “As I Sign” and their final collaboration together, “Memory.”
“Jim Lauderdale could easily be called a renaissance man,” says Ricky Skaggs. “He’s a great singer, great guitar player and there’s no way you could miss his work as a songwriter.”
As a songwriter in Nashville, Jim has written songs for George Strait, the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Lee Ann Womack and Vince Gill. His songs include “Where the Sidewalk Ends”, “Hole in My Head”, “Halfway Down” and “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This”.
Elvis Costello called him “…a man of great style, an exceptional songwriter and tremendous singer.”
In recent years he’s played IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in Raleigh with bluegrass bands including The Po Ramblin’ Boys, Fireside Collective and the Songs from the Road Band.
