It’s official: the world record for the largest bluegrass band was set in Daviess County in October. A celebration is being held this Sunday to recognize the achievement, and each participant can pick up a world record certificate at that time. Each participant’s name is also listed on the record website.
The world record was set at Jim Lambert Pioneer Village in Yellow Creek Park on October 28 as part of John Lanham Jam Day, an event organized by brothers Randy and Barry Lanham. They asked people to show up with their guitars, banjos, fiddles, and voices to play and sing the song “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” together in the key of G.
The Lanhams hoped 250 people would join the world record attempt and ended up getting a little more than double that. In the minutes before the attempt, Randy Lanham was told 493 people were participating, so he put out a last-minute call for a few more people who were already at the Jam Day.
“I did not know what to expect earlier in the day. Whoever showed up, I was gonna be happy with,” he said at the time. “When we reached that 493 mark, I thought ‘this is incredible,’ and they were still coming in. I’m so excited with the turnout.”
In the end, about 510 musicians and singers gathered to set the world record, and the group has been dubbed the Big O Bluegrass Band.
“Participants included locals as well as those who drove long distances to be a part of this momentous event,” Randy Lanham said. “Others were musicians who may not have played an instrument in years, yet brushed off the dust, tuned their instrument up, and joined in the festivities.”
The record is listed on the World Record Academy and Record Setter.
According to their website, the World Record Academy is the largest world record certifying agency in the world and requires any attempts to be done within a strict set of guidelines.
“I was able to download all the rules and regulations to set a world record and followed them for the event,” Lanham said. “I had 2 official witnesses — Kentucky State Trooper Cory King and Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman. I also recruited 12 stewards who witnessed each group of 50 people participating within their group. (The Academy) also asked for video footage at different angles, including a drone, so I did that and have it all to verify our world record.”
Owensboro Times live streamed the event here. Lanham’s compilation video can be watched here.
Lanham said several attempts were made to partner with the Guinness World Record organization to recognize the world record but that effort was unsuccessful “due to the financial demands of the Guinness World Record brand.”
“I am disappointed in them but it will not affect our celebration,” he said. “The goal of this to start with was to honor my grandad John Lanham to bring together our community to share the music of our heritage, and to raise awareness and money for our local women’s shelters. Granddad would be so happy that in his honor, we made people happy with music, and helped those in need.”
To recognize the achievement, a celebration will be held at 2 p.m. on December 17 at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
“We will have a Christmas song jam doing 12 songs with lyrics and chord charts projected on the big screen and a band leading all the songs,” Lanham said. “Everyone is welcome to bring an instrument or just their voice and join us for this free event.”
Those who participated in the record-setting event can pick up their certificate recognizing the achievement on Sunday.
To continue the momentum, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is providing open jams for the community.
“The sessions are always led by a group of musicians so people can follow along without the pressure of leading the song,” said Lanham, who is the Education Director at the Hall of Fame.
Big O Bluegrass Band jam dates are:
- Jingle Jam at 2 p.m. on December 17 at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Woodward Theatre
- The Great American Jam on March 16, 2024
- National Day of Prayer Gospel Jam on May 2, 2024
- Others to be added
Lanham said next year’s John Lanham Jam Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 26 at the Pioneer Village.
“We will have another big jam where we play many songs together, maybe even breaking our current record,” he said.
Private, group, and online lessons are available for people to be able to learn these songs and play along, though the lessons are not required. Email [email protected] to find out more.
“If you choose to take any of these lesson options, know that you are helping to support our many outreach programs,” Lanham said. “We are not only teaching music, we are teaching teachers, teaming people up to play together, and sending them out to play at nursing homes, hospitals, Hospice, and other places where people can’t get out.”
The John Lanham Jam Day mini-festival was created by Barry and Randy as a way to honor the memory of their grandfather John, who was an old-time fiddle player and a well-known member of the Knottsville community. The free community event includes music, food vendors, and old-time arts and crafts. Local luthiers also make and showcase instruments on site.
“This festival is in honor of my granddad John Lanham,” Randy said previously. “I grew up listening to him play. He taught me to play. I started when I was 11 years old. The old-time music, the gospel music, the bluegrass music, I grew up playing that. It’s always been a family thing. It’s always been very much shared with the younger generation. He told me a thousand times in my life to pass this music. And I got to see probably at least 100 of my former students here today playing in this group. So that makes me proud to know that I’m carrying on his legend of music.
Lanham was also proud to be able to help raise money for three local shelters. Money raised through donations at the Jam Day went to My Sister’s Keeper, Crossroads, and St. Benedict’s Day Shelter for Women.
