Jimmie Don Bates was born in Austin, Texas on January 1, 1965. He started playing fiddle at the age of 11. His parents, Valeara and Jimmie D. Bates tirelessly took their child to teachers and fiddle contests and instilled Jimmie with the desire to be the best fiddler he could be.
He learned from great fiddlers such as Garland Grainer, Vernon Worrell and Bennie Thomason. At the age of 14, Jimmie Don was the youngest person to ever win the Texas Old Time Fiddler’s Association championship. This win was the first of many at this championship contest. As a young adult Jimmie Don began teaching fiddle and in 1987, won the national championship at Weiser, Idaho. He has won the world championship contest at Crockett, Texas five times in a row.
A resident of Austin, Texas, Jimmie Don has served as President of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. He has continued to teach Texas style fiddling, having had over eighty students to date.
Material is from the Fiddler’s Frolics Hall of Fame, Texas Old Time Fiddlers Assn.
