Jesse McReynolds is one of the longest tenured members of the Grand Ole Opry, a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, as well as a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Performing with his brother Jim for more than 55 years, Jim & Jesse were the longest-lasting brother duet in country music history. They released three singles and a six-song EP on Starday Records between 1958 and 1960 and it was on the strength of those recordings that Jim & Jesse first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Jesse played mandolin on the Doors' Soft Parade album in 1969 and in recent years has been involved in recording projects with several Grateful Dead members.