Jimmy Gaudreau

Jimmy Gaudreau is well regarded as a top-tier mandolinist within both the traditional and progressive bluegrass worlds. 

Born in Wakefield, Rhode Island in 1946, Gaudreau’s earliest musical experiences were playing electric guitar with his rock band Jimmy G & the Jaguars. While in high school he performed with his band regularly, playing restaurant gigs and occasional dances. As the folk revival gathered steam in the 60s, Gaudreau gravitated towards banjo and mandolin.

After receiving a call Gaudreau relocated to Washington D.C. in 1969 to launch his musical career, joining the high-profile Country Gentlemen on mandolin alongside CMH mainstay Eddie Adcock. In 1971, Gaudreau was recruited as a founding member of Adcock’s early progressive bluegrass band IInd Generation. From there, Gaudreau’s career encompasses prolific work as both sideman and bandleader, appearing on over 100 albums in the decades that followed. This included work with artists as varied as Bill Emerson, Robin & Linda Williams, Béla Fleck and Tony Rice.

In 2006, Gaudreau recorded his fourth record as bandleader, a large undertaking featuring a long list of bluegrass greats. Released on CMH, In Good Company features work by Robin & Linda Williams, Béla Fleck, Bill Emerson, Leon Morris and Bill Clifton performing a varied array of songs across bluegrass classics, originals and music unfamiliar to the bluegrass repertoire.

Gaudreau was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America's "Hall of Greats” in 2005. With a career that has now lasted over five decades, Gaudreau’s work has been an influence on generations of mandolinists in the genre.