Jim Pankey

You know him from his online instruction for old time and bluegrass banjo where he’s known as the “Bob Ross of the banjo” to his over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.

Jim has been playing and teaching banjo since 1977.  He has been a contributor to the premier banjo publication The Banjo Newsletter. You will also find him listed among the faculty alumni at highly esteemed acoustic music and banjo camps such as Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp in Maryville, Tennessee, Banjo Newsletter Workshops and The Maryland Banjo Academy in Buckeystown, Maryland.  Jim has recently taught classes at the John C Campbell Folk School.

As a master of several styles, Jim has found outlets for each of these in the musical community. He is the banjo player for the well known bluegrass group Bluetastic Fangrass as well as playing guitar and banjo for Country Music up-and-comer Shelby Lynn Mosteller. He was also the banjo player for the super group The Hamilton County Ramblers.  

Jim is an active and well respected member of the banjo and musical communities and continues to pursue the banjo’s music and its marvelous history. As an often reluctant yet always fierce competitor Jim’s banjo prowess has earned him many titles in contests all across the southeast.”