Jay Jessup

U.S. multi-instrumentalist. (Pedal steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, guitar). First band at age 13 playing bass for The Ragged Edge, a group composed of Jessup and four friends. His musical career became more serious in 1969 as he played stages four nights a week while in college. Joined The North Star Band as pedal steel (he credits Buddy Charleton with aiding his learning of the instrument) and banjo player in 1977. When they broke up in 1982, Jessup moved back to his hometown Charlottesville, VA. He currently works in the family business, a Pepsi bottling plant. on Labor Day weekend of 1982. His father’s untimely passing a short while later found he and his sister in charge of running the family’s Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co of Central Virginia business which they are still doing 38 years later. Started in 1908 by their Grandfather it is the oldest Pepsi bottler in the world owned by the original family. Business commitments along with family responsibilities minimized the time available for seriously pursuing any musical interests in the ensuing years but these days Jay can be found most Sunday mornings playing bass in the praise band at First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. Jay would like to acknowledge the late, great Buddy Charleton who’s guidance gave him a great start learning pedal steel guitar the right way. Everyone Jay played music with through the years also deserves a lot of credit for helping shape his musical identity. Finally all the North Star Band friends and fans who supported the band by attending their shows and enjoying the music all those years ago get a lot of credit for what the band was able to achieve. It’s those memories and the desire and ability to create more good music which has been the inspiration for this new project.