JIM HOPKINS

Originally from Owego, NY, Jim now resides in Groton, NY with his wife Brenda.  At age 14 he received his first guitar for Christmas.   At age 16 he started playing in a rock group.  At about that time he got a Chet Atkins album, the first of many! He quickly realized that Country Music was his real passion and began to pursue his career in that field.

Jim began to hang out with his cousin Don Elster, lead guitarist with Tex Roe and the Travelers. 

In his earlier years Jim played with bands such as  The Roadrunners Band,  The Three J's,   He played with the Countrymen with Jerry Potter in the Cortland area for several years.   Thru the 80's and 90's he also played with bands such as The Tradewinds w/ Frank Updike, GamblersDream w/ Lowel Smith, and the original Over the Hill Gang w/ Tex Roe. Jim has been pickin' and grinnin with Doc and The Ridge Road Ramblers since 2004. 

His grand daughter, Julia, was born Jan 8th. 2007 

Jim with his mother and wife

Hall of Honor Award -2008

Watching grandpa on stage at the Cortland Country Music Park

Julia