Today we’d like to introduce you to James Melillo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Picky Out The Stingers is a bluegrass band that creates and performs original music inspired by Americana-folk, country, rockabilly, and bluegrass jam music.
Farley Sparks, a world-class dobro musician, was at a bluegrass jam session. When everyone was done playing, he hand-picked his new bandmates, and formed Farley Sparks and His Wayfaring Strangers.
When Farley passed away at the end of 2018, three of the remaining band members, James Melillo, vocals and guitar, Steve Child, banjo, and Paul “Woody” Woodmansey, double bass, joined up with James Cherry, on mandolin, and created Picky Out The Stingers.
Brought over from England by Woody, the English saying was an inside joke used with Farely, when when the band was sounding great. This inspired the new band name, and Picky Out The Stingers was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Music is a labor of love. The real challenge is having four people who are committed to playing, creating, and performing music, even with day jobs, families, and other life events. We have been lucky to build strong relationships and friendships with each other, on stage, in the studio, and outside the band.
When Farley passed away, the band had a decision to make. Farley had cancer, and even though his health was poor, he continued to perform. When James was driving him home from gigs, Farley told him: “If I die, and I ain’t going anywhere, you gotta keep this going.” During those years, relationships had been cemented and everyone wanted to continue together.
Additionally, all four members of Picky are also members of a five-person rockabilly band, Lean Canteen. They are currently blowing up in the Western Swing rockabilly scene. Balancing and playing with two bands, with the same people, can be a challenge to balance, but we are all committed to both.
What’s most important is we have fun. We don’t forget why we do this. We love to create, play and perform.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Picky Out The Stingers is a bluegrass band performing original bluegrass music.
Our first single, Easy Livin’, was released in July 2022. Our second single, Back to Me and In My Arms, a real barn burner was released on December 12, 2022. A new single will be released each month, from December 2022, through June 2023, culminating in our first album, (name TBD) being released in July 2023.
Our music can be enjoyed on all streaming platforms.
The thing we are most proud of is we can call each other personal friends.
“There is no one I’d rather stand next to on stage, than these three guys,” said James Melillo, band vocalist, and guitarist.
“We all have a high work ethic, but we make sure we have fun. Sometimes we have to be reminded, but we try not to lose sight of why we are doing this.” Steve Child, banjo, backup vocals
What were you like growing up?
All four band members come from different backgrounds, bringing their musical influences along with their musical talent to the group.
Woody is from England, He is a serious jokester. And he is serious about Americana 50’s rock and roll and country western musicians, including Elvis and Johnny Cash. His wife, Maryanne, gave him his first double bass when he was 20. He perfected a slap bass technique, inspired by the early rock and roll greats, and brings that slap style to Picky, making for a unique and original sound.
Steve Child grew up in Millcreek, Utah. Easygoing and soft-spoken and kind, Steve learned to play the banjo when he was young and he can jam on the banjo with the best of them. Steve gets the most likes on social. Everyone loves the banjo, and everyone loves Steve.
Even though James Cherry grew up in Springville, Utah, and James Melillo grew up in Connecticut, they were both inspired by great music teachers when they were young. Both ended up studying to be Jazz musicians, Cherry stated on the Bass and Melillo on guitar.
Cherry only plays music on instruments he has built. He has a business, Two Cherries Instruments, making and selling custom string instruments.
All four members love playing bluegrass band because they can explore both traditional bluegrass structure and improvisation of new sounds and styles.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pickyoutthestingers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickyoutthestingers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickyoutthestingers
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pickyoutthestingers?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVloIqZ1My82wrmWq4oFybQ/featured
- Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0B19C86BX/picky-out-the-stingers?refMarker=null
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/picky-out-the-stingers/back-to-me-and-in-my-arms
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/vg/artist/picky-out-the-stingers/1621813301
Image Credits
Tina Irwin (801-574-7952 | tina.irwin@gmail.com)
Album Artwork: Anthony Granato (801-550-5531 | ag@anthonygranato.com) Sandy Lisonbee (pickeeots@gmail.com)
