Banjo player extraordinaire JIMMY GREEN began playing with several pickup bands in Orange County around 1970. Jimmy says these bands “taught me a lot about playing with others, which helped me to get into some of the uptown-type bands” in Los Angeles, Hollywood and the Valley – notably, Dave Dolson’s Jazzin’ Babies and Bob White’s Hyperion Outfall Serenaders. Over the years he’s also played with bands featured at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee – including one year playing in two bands throughout the festival.

Jimmy and wife Billy had always danced at various festivals, and that helped him to learn the ragtime style. Around 2015, Jimmy began playing ragtime music “when dear friend Bill Mitchell asked me to duet with him – an honor of which I'm very proud.” Since then, Jimmy has played at various jazz club and ragtime club meetings. He says he has “enjoyed duetting with several of the local top ragtime players” and looks forward to today’s RagFest.