Blue Ridge Break Down
Sundays from Noon to 6pm Sponsored by McCall Insurance Rocky Mount Va.
Blue Ridge Breakdown on WYTI is a mix of traditional and modern bluegrass music, featuring artists from the roots of the genre all the way through today’s bluegrass sound. The show includes music from legends like Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and Ricky Skaggs, along with newer artists and groups including Junior Sisk, Lonesome River Band, Dan Tyminski, Authentic Unlimited, Billy Strings, Tony Trischka, Rhonda Vincent, and more. The focus of the program is on the music itself, with a wide variety of bluegrass styles and plenty of music throughout the show.
Host ‘Big Jim’ Shively grew up in Ferrum in a family with deep bluegrass roots. His cousin is legendary App
alachian musician Roscoe Holcomb, and his grandfather, Frank Holcomb, played Bluegrass with all his aunts.. His Aunt Virginia Lee was in the Nashville based bluegrass band Mixt Company. After graduating high school, Jim moved to Nashville where he worked as a session bass player and toured with several bands before returning home to Southwest Virginia. Along with his work at WYTI, Jim has also been involved with several regional radio stations including WVTF Music, WHEO, WROE-LP, and WQMR-LP. His background in both bluegrass music and broadcasting brings an authentic Appalachian connection to Blue Ridge Breakdown and the music heard each week on WYTI.
