Jimmy's Pick n Grin

Many people have heard of The Grand Ole Opry and Renfro Valley. Both are country and western standards. People visit Renfro Valley to see quality performers. People also visit The Grand Ole Opry for the same reason or tune in to the radio broadcast to listen to well known performers.

Andrews, NC has it's own version of The Grand Ole Opry and Renfro Valley called Jimmy's Pick n Grin. The entry to Jimmy's is shown to the right. An added bonus is that this music hall is located in the Appalachian Mountains where the music developed from the immigrants who moved here. Country music played by Appalachian string bands in the early twentieth century consisted of fiddle, guitar and banjo. The fiddle stemmed from Ireland, guitar from Spain and banjo immigrated from West Africa. The country music and country bands are like America, elements from around the world.

Jimmy's Pick n Grin has a "house" band known as the Steve Jordan Band. Steve Jordan and his wife, Sue, are also the owners of Jimmy's Pick n Grin. The Steve Jordan Band plays mainly country and western music at Jimmy's but the band has plenty of experience at dealing out some mean bluegrass, also.

Of course the Steve Jordan Band has more than one member. The band members include:

Steve Jordan: vocal, guitar, fiddle (and anything with strings)
Henry Wilson: band leader, lead guitar
Gene Williamson: steel guitar
Kevin Tuck: bass, vocals
Derrick Personally: drums, vocals
Tommy Lamb: keyboard
LB Solesbee: vocals
Bill Ledford: vocals
Jeanie Pyle: vocals
Crystal Fiddler: guest fiddler

You can see the band playing at Jimmy's Pick n Grin if you click here.

One of the band members, Jeanie Pyle (in the photo to the right), was asked how she became a band member.

"I've been singing with Steve Jordan around two years. We met at a little hole in the wall jam session over in Blairsville, Georgia. We hit it off as great friends. We love to sing together and entertain folks.

I've been singing my whole life. It all started in church as most people do. Music begins in your heart and just grows. You can never quit. It's addictive. But entertaining all these wonderful guests is what I love best.

As Jeanie Pyle says, "music begins in your heart...entertaining all these wonderful guests is what we love best". This is clearly how Jimmy's Pick n Grin comes across. A variety of music is played for those who clog, slow dance, line dance and two step which adds to the entertainment for those who come to listen to good quality music.

How did Jimmy's Pick n Grin come to be? Jimmy refers to Steve Jordan's father Jimmy Jordan (shown in the photo to the left). Jimmy Jordan was born and raised in Robbinsville, NC playing music. He was soft spoken with a wide grin and a cheerful friend to many. As an adult he played guitar with Bill & Wilma and the Snowbird Mountain Boys, Carl Story known as the father of "Gospel Bluegrass" and many others who were well known in the region. He often spoke of the good times he had playing over in Knoxville TN for the "Cas Walker Radio Show". He believed in "bein' good to people" and didn't care where he played music. He just loved to play.

When Jimmy Sr. saw that his son, Steve, took an interest in playing the fiddle as a young child, Jimmy Sr. encouraged Steve to stay with it. Jimmy enjoyed the fiddle and guitar accompaniment by Steve while he mostly sang and played the guitar.

On October 10, 2009 Jimmy Jordan was recognized by Valleytown Cultural Arts and Chautaugua for his contribution in preserving the culture of moutain music. This contribution includes his son, Steve Jordan. Steve has found his voice and alternates between guitar and fiddle as it suits him. The Jordans welcome any music lover and boot scooter who wish to mosey in and sit a spell. If the person plays an instrument and can play a lick, they are welcome to join in.

Steve Jordan honors his father's commitment to country music through Jimmy's Pick n Grin and is making his own contribution in preserving the culture of moutain music.