Oscar James “Jimmy” Stoneman
Oscar James "Jimmy" Stoneman (March 8, 1937—September 22, 2002) was an American bluegrass and country bassist and vocalist. Born in Washington, D.C.. He co-founded the Blue Grass Champs in the mid-1950s with siblings Scotty and Donna, playing a distinctive homemade upright bass built by his father from a vintage drum shell. The group’s profile increased when they won the nationally televised Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts competition in 1956, subsequently evolving the band into the multi-generational Stoneman Family. He recorded widely on major label albums for MGM and RCA, earning the Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year award in 1967. He toured continuously until 1994 and entered the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a collective member of his family ensemble.