Episode 32 – Jim Lauderdale

After graduating college, Lauderdale lived in Nashville for five months in the summer of 1979 while he tried to get a recording or publishing deal. He hung out a lot with Roland White, an accomplished mandolin player, with whom he cut a record. But things never took off, so he decided to move to New York, where he played in Floyd Domino’s band and performed as a solo artist. In 1980 he met singer-songwriter Buddy Miller. He played in Miller’s band in the active twang music scene that was evolving at the time. Lauderdale joined the national touring production of Pump Boys & Dinettes, which eventually reached Los Angeles where he met musicians Rosie Flores, Billy Bremmer, Pete Anderson, Lucinda Williams, Dale Watson, and others. John Ciambotti became Lauderdale’s manager and Lauderdale relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, recording an album for CBS (which was later released as The Point of No Return). The record was influenced by the Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens.

Still interested? Visit the artist’s official website or Wikipedia entry to learn more about this episode’s guest.