The story of Jimmie Strother: How an inmate strummed his way into American lore

The story of Jimmie Strother: How an inmate strummed his way into American lore

GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. Right in the middle of the rolling hills of Goochland County, just off Route 6, the bucolic blends with barbed wire and brick.The place of work and punishment is probably the last place one would expect music history to unfold.But it was here an inmate strummed his way into American lore nearly 90 years ago.His banjo really rings out in such a strong way, says historian Gregg Kimball. It is a window into a musical world tha…