Jim Sharpley

Dear Friends and Fans of Still Pickin’,

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved band leader, Jim Sharpley, on March 9th at his winter home in Florida. Jim was not only a talented musician but also a dear friend, a gentleman with a great sense of humor. We are devastated by this loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Sue, and other family members.

Jim was a multi-talented artist who played banjo, dobro, guitar and had a beautiful singing voice. He wrote several songs that the band performed and recorded on our CDs. Jim Sharpley and the Sharpshooters were pioneers of country music in Connecticut and played venues throughout the state and New England. Jim was also inducted into the Connecticut Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Aside from his music career, Jim had a remarkable broadcasting career, working for WTNH TV in New Haven, News 40 TV in Springfield, and several radio stations. He was a familiar voice on WDRC and WTIC radio, where he gave regular traffic updates.

Jim joined Still Pickin’ in 2011, where he played banjo, dobro, and guitar alongside Bob Cox, Myrna Riquier, and later Dennis on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. Patricia McDonald later joined the band on bass, forming our current line-up. Jim was the backbone of the band, serving as our leader, spokesperson, and front-man. He will be deeply missed.

It is hard to imagine Still Pickin’ without Jim, and we are in discussions about the future of the band. We will keep you informed of any new developments.

Rest in Peace, Jim Sharpley.