Musician:
Jimmie contracted polio as an infant. While he was challenged physically, he was self-reliant throughout his life.
When Jimmie was nine years old he was given a fiddle by his schoolteacher and told that if he could learn to play it, he could keep it. Within two weeks he showed up at school and told his teacher that he knew four songs. He kept the fiddle. It not only changed his life but it defined it as well. Although some would consider him handicapped, Jimmie played the fiddle with great skill. In later life he learned to play the organ and keyboard.
As a teen Jimmie took part in his family's band, The Hamblin Ramblers, playing locally and performing at area square dances.
At the age of eighteen he set out on his own to pursue his love of music and began his radio career, playing on the Juvenile Jamboree. From 1961 through 1968, he was featured on the Pete William Show on WRGB-TV. This brought him a lot of joy and notoriety.
Jimmie traveled and performed in many areas of the country, including Wheeling WV, Montana and Florida. He met and recorded with many famous musicians including Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, Jeannie Sheppard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kitty Wells, Marvin Rainwater, Jimmy Miller and Winnie Mae and many others who were in awe of his talent with the fiddle.
In 1960 he joined forces with Smokey Green, playing in several area taverns, jamborees and traveling to do radio and TV shows in the New England area. He enjoyed over 30 years playing with his good friend, Smokey. Fans flocked to see them in their rendition of Paper of Pins which not only broke up the audience, but the performers too.
For ten years in the 1980's Jimmie played the organ at Mike's Fireside Lounge in South Glens Falls, NY. Everyone enjoyed dining to Jimmie's wonderful music and were entertained by his well-known sense of humor.
Jimmies talent was recognized by his induction into The New York State Fiddlers Hall of Fame, in 1985. Board members are quoted as saying: "He is not only a great fiddler, but a great showman; A pro in every sense of the word." The song they mentioned above all was "George Washington Bridge" which Jimmie wrote and performed countless times.
Many local musicians were close friends with Jimmie, including Al and Kathy Bain, Gary Blodgett, Al Burrows, Sonny Thompson, Dick Barnes and many, many more. Donnie Perkins always put a big grin on Jimmies face when he did his Jimmie Hamblin impression right down to his raised pant legs, peering over his glasses and his full fisted bow.
At the memorial celebration after the funeral, Donnie opened his impression with "HERE WE GO, JIMMIE!!!)
Jimmie Hamblin was born with a God given talent for music and humor. Early in his life he was challenged with polio which left him needing crutches and ventually a wheel chair to get around. His hands were very twisted, but not enough that he couldn't hold a bow and finger the neck of his fiddle. Later he learned to play the piano and organ with his knuckles. His love of music and unique humor carried him well beyond his infirmities. Where ever he went he brought music and humor, whether on-stage or visiting in the living room of friends and relatives. Jimmie was never "on" in the theatrical sense; he was always just "Jimmie".
Jimmie contracted polio as an infant. While he was challenged physically, he was self-reliant throughout his life.
When Jimmie was nine years old he was given a fiddle by his schoolteacher and told that if he could learn to play it, he could keep it. Within two weeks he showed up at school and told his teacher that he knew four songs. He kept the fiddle. It not only changed his life but it defined it as well. Although some would consider him handicapped, Jimmie played the fiddle with great skill. In later life he learned to play the organ and keyboard.
As a teen Jimmie took part in his family's band, The Hamblin Ramblers, playing locally and performing at area square dances.
At the age of eighteen he set out on his own to pursue his love of music and began his radio career, playing on the Juvenile Jamboree. From 1961 through 1968, he was featured on the Pete William Show on WRGB-TV. This brought him a lot of joy and notoriety.
Jimmie traveled and performed in many areas of the country, including Wheeling WV, Montana and Florida. He met and recorded with many famous musicians including Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, Jeannie Sheppard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kitty Wells, Marvin Rainwater, Jimmy Miller and Winnie Mae and many others who were in awe of his talent with the fiddle.
In 1960 he joined forces with Smokey Green, playing in several area taverns, jamborees and traveling to do radio and TV shows in the New England area. He enjoyed over 30 years playing with his good friend, Smokey. Fans flocked to see them in their rendition of Paper of Pins which not only broke up the audience, but the performers too.
For ten years in the 1980's Jimmie played the organ at Mike's Fireside Lounge in South Glens Falls, NY. Everyone enjoyed dining to Jimmie's wonderful music and were entertained by his well-known sense of humor.
Jimmies talent was recognized by his induction into The New York State Fiddlers Hall of Fame, in 1985. Board members are quoted as saying: "He is not only a great fiddler, but a great showman; A pro in every sense of the word." The song they mentioned above all was "George Washington Bridge" which Jimmie wrote and performed countless times.
Many local musicians were close friends with Jimmie, including Al and Kathy Bain, Gary Blodgett, Al Burrows, Sonny Thompson, Dick Barnes and many, many more. Donnie Perkins always put a big grin on Jimmies face when he did his Jimmie Hamblin impression right down to his raised pant legs, peering over his glasses and his full fisted bow.
At the memorial celebration after the funeral, Donnie opened his impression with "HERE WE GO, JIMMIE!!!)
Jimmie Hamblin was born with a God given talent for music and humor. Early in his life he was challenged with polio which left him needing crutches and ventually a wheel chair to get around. His hands were very twisted, but not enough that he couldn't hold a bow and finger the neck of his fiddle. Later he learned to play the piano and organ with his knuckles. His love of music and unique humor carried him well beyond his infirmities. Where ever he went he brought music and humor, whether on-stage or visiting in the living room of friends and relatives. Jimmie was never "on" in the theatrical sense; he was always just "Jimmie".
Musician:
Jimmie contracted polio as an infant. While he was challenged physically, he was self-reliant throughout his life.
When Jimmie was nine years old he was given a fiddle by his schoolteacher and told that if he could learn to play it, he could keep it. Within two weeks he showed up at school and told his teacher that he knew four songs. He kept the fiddle. It not only changed his life but it defined it as well. Although some would consider him handicapped, Jimmie played the fiddle with great skill. In later life he learned to play the organ and keyboard.
As a teen Jimmie took part in his family's band, The Hamblin Ramblers, playing locally and performing at area square dances.
At the age of eighteen he set out on his own to pursue his love of music and began his radio career, playing on the Juvenile Jamboree. From 1961 through 1968, he was featured on the Pete William Show on WRGB-TV. This brought him a lot of joy and notoriety.
Jimmie traveled and performed in many areas of the country, including Wheeling WV, Montana and Florida. He met and recorded with many famous musicians including Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, Jeannie Sheppard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kitty Wells, Marvin Rainwater, Jimmy Miller and Winnie Mae and many others who were in awe of his talent with the fiddle.
In 1960 he joined forces with Smokey Green, playing in several area taverns, jamborees and traveling to do radio and TV shows in the New England area. He enjoyed over 30 years playing with his good friend, Smokey. Fans flocked to see them in their rendition of Paper of Pins which not only broke up the audience, but the performers too.
For ten years in the 1980's Jimmie played the organ at Mike's Fireside Lounge in South Glens Falls, NY. Everyone enjoyed dining to Jimmie's wonderful music and were entertained by his well-known sense of humor.
Jimmies talent was recognized by his induction into The New York State Fiddlers Hall of Fame, in 1985. Board members are quoted as saying: "He is not only a great fiddler, but a great showman; A pro in every sense of the word." The song they mentioned above all was "George Washington Bridge" which Jimmie wrote and performed countless times.
Many local musicians were close friends with Jimmie, including Al and Kathy Bain, Gary Blodgett, Al Burrows, Sonny Thompson, Dick Barnes and many, many more. Donnie Perkins always put a big grin on Jimmies face when he did his Jimmie Hamblin impression right down to his raised pant legs, peering over his glasses and his full fisted bow.
At the memorial celebration after the funeral, Donnie opened his impression with "HERE WE GO, JIMMIE!!!)
Jimmie Hamblin was born with a God given talent for music and humor. Early in his life he was challenged with polio which left him needing crutches and ventually a wheel chair to get around. His hands were very twisted, but not enough that he couldn't hold a bow and finger the neck of his fiddle. Later he learned to play the piano and organ with his knuckles. His love of music and unique humor carried him well beyond his infirmities. Where ever he went he brought music and humor, whether on-stage or visiting in the living room of friends and relatives. Jimmie was never "on" in the theatrical sense; he was always just "Jimmie".
Jimmie contracted polio as an infant. While he was challenged physically, he was self-reliant throughout his life.
When Jimmie was nine years old he was given a fiddle by his schoolteacher and told that if he could learn to play it, he could keep it. Within two weeks he showed up at school and told his teacher that he knew four songs. He kept the fiddle. It not only changed his life but it defined it as well. Although some would consider him handicapped, Jimmie played the fiddle with great skill. In later life he learned to play the organ and keyboard.
As a teen Jimmie took part in his family's band, The Hamblin Ramblers, playing locally and performing at area square dances.
At the age of eighteen he set out on his own to pursue his love of music and began his radio career, playing on the Juvenile Jamboree. From 1961 through 1968, he was featured on the Pete William Show on WRGB-TV. This brought him a lot of joy and notoriety.
Jimmie traveled and performed in many areas of the country, including Wheeling WV, Montana and Florida. He met and recorded with many famous musicians including Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson, Jeannie Sheppard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kitty Wells, Marvin Rainwater, Jimmy Miller and Winnie Mae and many others who were in awe of his talent with the fiddle.
In 1960 he joined forces with Smokey Green, playing in several area taverns, jamborees and traveling to do radio and TV shows in the New England area. He enjoyed over 30 years playing with his good friend, Smokey. Fans flocked to see them in their rendition of Paper of Pins which not only broke up the audience, but the performers too.
For ten years in the 1980's Jimmie played the organ at Mike's Fireside Lounge in South Glens Falls, NY. Everyone enjoyed dining to Jimmie's wonderful music and were entertained by his well-known sense of humor.
Jimmies talent was recognized by his induction into The New York State Fiddlers Hall of Fame, in 1985. Board members are quoted as saying: "He is not only a great fiddler, but a great showman; A pro in every sense of the word." The song they mentioned above all was "George Washington Bridge" which Jimmie wrote and performed countless times.
Many local musicians were close friends with Jimmie, including Al and Kathy Bain, Gary Blodgett, Al Burrows, Sonny Thompson, Dick Barnes and many, many more. Donnie Perkins always put a big grin on Jimmies face when he did his Jimmie Hamblin impression right down to his raised pant legs, peering over his glasses and his full fisted bow.
At the memorial celebration after the funeral, Donnie opened his impression with "HERE WE GO, JIMMIE!!!)
Jimmie Hamblin was born with a God given talent for music and humor. Early in his life he was challenged with polio which left him needing crutches and ventually a wheel chair to get around. His hands were very twisted, but not enough that he couldn't hold a bow and finger the neck of his fiddle. Later he learned to play the piano and organ with his knuckles. His love of music and unique humor carried him well beyond his infirmities. Where ever he went he brought music and humor, whether on-stage or visiting in the living room of friends and relatives. Jimmie was never "on" in the theatrical sense; he was always just "Jimmie".
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