About Me
Fresh Off The Strings" is Jim Paul Blair's first solo release. Although presented in the style of traditional bluegrass, "Fresh Off The Strings" delivers original arrangements of classic bluegrass, country, and rock along with three new tunes. Bill Monroe's "Can't You Hear Me Calling" is performed in a style influenced by the late Stevie Ray Vaughn while tunes previously recorded by Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, George Gershwin, Grand Funk Railroad, and The Monkees are performed in a style influenced by Bill Monroe. Among friends contributing help in the studio include Byron Berline, Levi Dennis, Don Morris, Monica Taylor, Steve Thomas, and Chris Joslin. "Fresh Off The Strings" was recorded at Cimarron Sound Lab in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and engineered and produced by Jeffrey Parker. Previous collaborations were issued with The Neverly Brothers, The Neverly Hillbillies, and The Bonham Revue. He has also contributed to recent recordings of Randy Pease, Greg Jacobs, Eddie Glen, and The Delicious Militia.
Live performances are currently split with four groups: Country band City Moon, providing vocals, rhythm guitar, and occasional mandolin and banjo; classic/original rock band The Neverly Brothers as vocalist and lead guitarist; and bluegrass bands The Bonham Revue and The Neverly Hillbillies providing vocals and playing banjo. Jim also occasionally guest appears with Wild Card, Tom Skinner, and The Red Dirt Rangers.
Born in Odessa, Texas, he spent most of his years growing up in Clayton, Oklahoma. Being the son of former Texas Playboys member Ramona Reed, he was exposed to the music of Bob Wills at an early age. After ten years of playing in bands around Stillwater and Oklahoma City (The Red Valley Barnstormers, Garth Brooks, Jim Alexander, Hickory Wind), Jim moved to Nashville in 1989 where he became an original member of The Neverly Brothers and The Neverly Hillbillies (formerly Free Wheel Drive). After moving back to the Tulsa area in 1998, he is busier than ever.
Jim also serves on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Foundation & Museum.
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