All 510 Big O Bluegrass Band members were honored on Sunday for being a part of the world’s largest bluegrass band. The celebration was part of Jingle Jam, the first of many open jam sessions organizer Randy Lanham has planned for the group.
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 “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” together in the key of G.
The community band is open to anyone who wants to play, sing, and share music with others. Lanham said they operate under the motto, “Music with a Mission,” and strive to create joy for the artist creating music and sharing it with those who can’t get out.
After honoring the band members and extending certificates, the group began the jam session, chocked full of holiday favorites.
“It just tickles me to look out in the crowd and see so many pickers, grinners, and singers,” Lanham said. “Thank you to everyone for coming out to help us celebrate, first all, the birth of Christ, but also what we did to become the world’s largest bluegrass band.”
Lanham said the world record effort opened his eyes to how many people in the community and beyond are aching to play with others and be a part of something special. That prompted him and countless other volunteers to form the Big O Bluegrass Band.
“We’re going to start having these jams – Big O Jam Sessions – where anyone and everybody can come and sing or dance and be a part of something special.”
Lanham didn’t rule out trying to beat the record next year.
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum offers several education and outreach opportunities heading into 2024. These include clogging classes for $40 per term, online lessons for $25 per month, private music lessons for $85 per month, and group lessons for $95 per term.
Additional information is available at bluegrasshall.org.
