Jody Adams

Born on 26 March 1958 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, the musician received his first introduction to the fiddle from his father Elmer, a square-dance player, at the age of two. By six he was already handling fiddle, banjo and mandolin while singing alongside his father at local venues. After high school, where he performed in two bluegrass bands, he signed on with the Arbuckle Mountain Boys and drew major inspiration from their leader Don Thomas. In 1975 the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music voted him Best Bluegrass Mandolin Player. Still uncertain of his direction, he worked with assorted groups before completing a five-year stint as a musician in the US Air Force. Stationed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, he played with Wild Blue Country, the Air Force’s top ensemble, and there met Sandra, his future wife. Her guidance convinced him that country music offered his true path. Following his discharge, guest spots on the Grand Ole Opry and Nashville Network programs brought regular engagements with Opryland and Alabama. Ultimately he chose to honor the songs and traditions of his youth over other styles, returning to Colorado to build a solo career performing his own material in a traditional country vein rather than bluegrass. He described Heartache Hangover as a musical time capsule that recounted his struggles through what he termed his ‘aimless’ years.