Jim Mills

Jim Mills, a banjo player, made a notable mark in modern bluegrass music both through his individual recordings and through his roles in Doyle Lawson's Quicksilver and Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder. His contributions to Lawson's projects date back to the late 1980s, beginning with the album I Heard the Angels Singing, where his playing echoed the approach of Earl Scruggs. During the mid-1990s, he worked with the Bass Mountain Boys prior to starting out on his own. The year 1998 saw the release of his debut solo album Bound to Ride. The following year, he featured on Soldier of the Cross, marking his initial collaboration with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. His next solo project, My Dixie Home, incorporated performances from several guest singers. Recognition for his influence came via multiple honors, including the 1999 IBMA award for Instrumental Album of the Year bestowed on Bound to Ride, along with six victories in the banjo category for Instrumental Performer of the Year. He also put out an instructional video called Jim Mills: A Winning Banjo Style. On May 3, 2024, Mills passed away at the age of 57.