James "Jimmy" Dwight Duckworth

Jimmy Duckworth, 57, of Charlotte, NC, passed away unexpectedly on August 19, 2010. He was born on January 20, 1953, in Charlotte, a son of the late Clarence W. and Ruth Boate Duckworth.

Jimmy was one-of-a-kind. His first-grade alphabet book told us that “M is for monsters—they eat you,” and “V is for vampires—they suck your blood.” From that time on, he was totally his own person. He approached everything he did with joy and creativity in a uniquely personal way. He was a beloved brother and son, a serious student of life, a gifted teacher, and a brilliant musician. When he was 14, and he wanted to join the neighborhood rock band with his brother and friends, he cut enough lawns to buy his first guitar from Lowes Hardware. He practiced until he was the only one who could play the signature licks in “I Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet.” In a 40-year career that began in a junior-high gymnasium, where the students threw basketballs at the band to taunt them, he evolved into a consummate player who performed with Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Feinstein, Bernadette Peters, Patti Lapone, Rita Moreno, Joel Gray, Johnny Cash, Kathy Lee Gifford, Louie Bellson, and the great composer/conductor Bill Conti.

A lifelong student of music, Jimmy received the Bachelors of Creative Arts degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1985. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and at Central Piedmont Community College. Over the years, he took master classes with many notable artists, including Herb Ellis, Fredrick Hand, Lenny Breau, Jamie Abersold, and David Baker.

In addition to being an exceptional performer, he loved to share what he’d learned, teaching guitar at Davidson College, Catawba College, Central Piedmont, and Pembroke State University, as well as teaching numerous students privately.

His musical associations covered the state and beyond; many jazz and classical musicians shared a stage with Jimmy. He played with the Unifour Band, voted the national champions in the Community Band Category by Downbeat magazine in 1987. Jimmy was one of the area’s early mainstays of musical theater, beginning with Godspell, a major hit for the CPCC summer theater in 1975 to the present day. He also played with national touring companies of “A Chorus Line,” “Sugar Babies” with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller, “Will Rodgers Follies” with Mack Davis, “Hello Dolly” with Carol Channing, “Man of La Mancha” with Robert Goulet, “Chicago,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “42nd Street,” “Annie,” and “Les Miserables,”

His talents were sought by many. He frequently played banjo and guitar with The Charlotte Symphony. He appeared on “Candid Camera,” “The PTL Club,” and “Good Morning America.” He did video soundtracks for Charles Kurault, Loonis McGlohon, and Dee Barton. One of the infamous videos, “Baby, It’s Potty Time” was featured on Late Night with David. Letterman. His guitar on “Super Duper Pooper” was sublime!

For 20 years, he hosted a local-access cable show, “Jimmy Duckworth and Friends,” which showcased area players and consistently offered a range of performance, from some of the finest traditional jazz to no-holds-barred “free” jazz. His show received eleven awards for best series, lighting, and sound.

The real genius of Jimmy Duckworth was that he had the ability to become a perfect part of his musical surroundings, no matter what they were. He could be the perfect banjo player one minute, the perfect jazz guitarist another, a wailin’ blues player at another venue, the perfect bass guitarist at another turn, and provide the most beautiful classical guitar piece for an afternoon wedding. There are many artists who can do one thing well; there are few artists who can do many things well. Jimmy was one-of-kind.

Jimmy is survived by his brother Larry Duckwort; sister Jan Yandle; nephew Chris Stegall; first cousins Joan Hope, Steve Hope, Chip Hope, Bill Duckworth, and Joe Duckworth; and sister-in-law D.J. Bost and brother-in-law Jim Yandle.

Friends are invited to a gathering at Jimmy’s home, 3916 Arbor Lane in Charlotte, at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 24. The family will again receive friends at Harry & Bryant Company, 500 Providence Road, from 1-1:45 p.m., Wednesday, August 25, and the service will follow at 2:00 in the chapel.

Condolences can also be extended at www.HarryandBryantFuneralHome.com