Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band

Category: Artist
Time period: Post-WWII

Date nominated: Apr 23, 2010
Date inducted: Sep 1, 2010
Ratings: 31
Average rating: 4.33

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Of all the jug bands formed during the folk revival, the Jim Kweskin Jug Band gained the most widespread popularity. The band formed in the early 1960's in Cambridge, MA. They played a combination of old time folk, jazz and blues tunes with a special emphasis on jug band and novelty music from the 1920's. Kweskin was the nominal leader of the band, though Geoff Muldaur was usually heard on lead guitar and vocals. The band also included Bill Keith on banjo, Mel Lyman on harmonica, Fritz Richmand on jug and washtub bass, Richard Greene on fiddle and Maria D'Amato on vocals and kazoo. They were signed by Vangaurd Records and released 4 albums on Vangaurd in the 1960's. They also played the Newport Folk Festival in 1963.

Of the personnel listed below, the original lineup consisted of: Jim Kweskin, Fritz Richmond, Geoff Muldaur, Bruno Wolfe and Bob Siggins.

Although Bill Keith and Bob Siggens were known as 3-finger (bluegrass) banjo players, they usually strummed the 5-string with a flat pick in this band. Both Keith and Richard Greene were members of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.

After the band broke up, Geoff and Maria Muldaur went on to record two albums in 1968 and 1971. Fritz Richmond made two albums with John Sebastian and the J-Band in 1996 and 1999. As of 2010, Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur are performing together in a series of summer tour dates.

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Personnel

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