Suzanne Jaroszynski is gaining a wide national reputation as a song stylist. Her powerful, rich voice is suited equally to sentimental ballads and gospel shouters. Suzanne has twice been a first place winner at the prestigious Mount Airy, North Carolina Fiddlers Convention in Folk Songs category. Originally from Michigan, she spent many years in the South immersed in Old Time Music. Suzanne is an accomplished percussionist, creating complex rhythms with implements such as spoons and bones. Her strong rhythm guitar playing provides a solid foundation for Jim’s banjo solos. On slower ballads and airs she often play the flute.
Jim Hale has been at the forefront of the clawhammer style banjo playing revival. His innovative technique has been referred to as “eloquent”, “tastefully professional” and “powerful“. Jim’s passion for music has shown itself in many ways throughout his life.
From his early bluegrass band experiences to leadership of award winning string bands; his career as a luthier, to terms as an author for music publications – Sing Out! and Banjo Newsletter he has been deeply involved in Americana Roots Music. In addition to Suzanne and Jim recordings his playing has been featured on Home on the Range (Wichita Eagle and Beacon Publishing Co., Wichita, KS) and in Warner Brothers’ TV mini-series, The Wild West.
Together, Suzanne and Jim are musicians who explore new directions by looking back into the roots of Americana music and lore. The husband and wife team blend their voices and instruments in songs of an earlier time. The stories told by these old songs (and the stories behind the songs) not only relate tales of a bygone era but open a window into the origins of our modern culture.
The duo’s performances are designed from their research into archived collections of historic music and are presented in an informative yet engaging manner. Each show involves the audience from the first note to the last applause in a memorable entertainment experience. Suzanne and Jim are full time professional entertainers with deep roots in the American Tradition of minstrelsy. Since 1992 they have been full time travelers and their current house is a 30-foot class C motor home — call it "wheel estate" they do! Over the years they have felt privileged to take their music into more than 40 states, Canada and Europe. Suzanne and Jim have appeared at a variety of venues (see References for more information) making friends and spreading their unique old time music all over the world.
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