3 Year Old Bluegrass Musician

Posted on Fri, Nov. 28, 2008
Little boy lights up bluegrass music scene

By Jim Warren

Bluegrass music fans around the Lexington area are starting to notice a new, but quite small, star lighting up the local scene.

Lexington's Jonathan Rader began turning up regularly this summer at Southland Bowling Lanes' Tuesday night bluegrass jam sessions. Soon, he branched out to the Thursday night jam at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown and other venues.

Jonathan particularly likes to perform with his favorite group, Driving Rain, wearing a cowboy hat and jeans and playing the banjo, the mandolin or, as he puts it, "beatin' the fire out" of a guitar.

What's notable about all this is that Jonathan is 3 years old.

Admittedly, he isn't quite ready for the big time. His playing has a way to go — he's never had a lesson — and he hasn't mastered all the words to many of the songs. But folks agree that he has a flair for performing.

"He's very natural onstage," says Driving Rain leader Jim Willoughby, who invites Jonathan to play along with the band every chance he gets. "And he puts a smile on your face because he just loves the music to death. I really think he could make a fine musician one of these days if he sticks with it."

The area's newest bluegrass boy began his musical love early. Jonathan's mom, Terri Wilson, says that even when Jonathan was in the crib he'd perk up and listen whenever banjo music came on the radio or television.

"My dad was a talented musician, so maybe it's in his genes," Wilson said.

- rest(including video) at www.kentucky.com:80/696/story/607706.html