Brian Jiguere is undoubtedly one of the finest voices in bluegrass music in the northeast.  He was born in Corinth, New York on September 23, 1941.  His mother  worked in the local shirt factory  and his father worked in the local paper mill.

The youngest of five children, all musical, Brian learned to appreciate good  music at an early age.  He has fond memories of listening to his three older brothers playing music together when he was very small.  Probably his proudest possession as a youngster was a Silvertone Guitar that he received as a Christmas gift from his mother when he was only 10.  By the time he was 14, he was playing at local square dances and other shows.  All  during his early years of playing, Brian refused to sing on stage, feeling that he was just not good enough.  Upon graduation from high school, he set the guitar aside and started working full time at the local  paper mill and, as he says, "chasing skirts".

In 1962 he met Shirley, and after a two year courtship, they were married.  They have two children, Melissa and Brian, Jr.  Faced with the expenses of raising a family, a lay-off at the mill and unemployment benefits that didn't pay enough to  feed his family, Brian was blessed one night with  a phone call from a man in Luzerne who had  lost his lead guitar  player. He was inquiring if Brian would be interested in auditioning for the job.  Brian was very quick to respond yes, if they had a guitar he could use.  Shirley laughed at the idea, and commented to friends "this ought to be good".  She didn't  know that he had played all  those years.  As Brian says, "it never came up, so  I didn't mention it".  Brian auditioned for the job and was soon hired as lead guitar player for Donna and The Country Squares.  They played everything from dude ranches to bars to weddings for over two years.  At this time  they were playing about every night of the week, and Brian was working days in the paper  mill. He finally realized that he was missing the fun of  a growing family, and the only time he took  Shirley out was to  watch him play.  He quit playing again and sold all of his equipment.

It  wasn't long after this that the Adirondack Bluegrass League had  a show about a half mile from Brian's home, and he and Shirley attended the concert.  He was immediately hooked:  He was fascinated by the band, and says it is the first time in his life that he was really entertained speechless.  He made up his mind right then and there that he had to play Bluegrass.  The band was the very popular Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys.  Brian joined the Adirondack Bluegrass  League and went to meetings and devoted himself 100 percent to learning bluegrass.  He bought himself a banjo which he couldn't tune.  One night at a show, Brian met up with another bluegrass  musician, and after  learning of Brian's  difficulty  in tuning the banjo he wrote down on a piece of paper exactly how to do  it.  He also invited Brian over to  his home in Balston, New York for a picking session, which continued every day for six  months.  Brian never did learn the banjo, but  played bluegrass  guitar.  This new found friend was super picker Al Bennett.  Al and Brian played a few gigs together, and then they decided that Brian had to learn to play the mandolin, thus another project for Brian to  tackle.  After  mastering the mandolin, Brian met up with Hank and Irene Clothier of Hudson Falls, New York and they  formed Yankee Strings.  Every weekend they were busy playing festivals, fairs, etc.  throughout the northeast and Canada.  One of Brian's most memorable moments was at a festival when Joe Val broke his ankle.  Brian was asked to take Joe's place for the night with the band.  He said he was so nervous he could barely pick.  What an honor to fill in for Joe Val!

Brian recalls in the off season  being a side man for  everybody's favorite, Mr. Smokey Greene.   Eventually he became more than just a side man, he was an official part of Smokey Greene and The Boys for many years.  Smokey would show off his yodeling talents to the crowd when it was actually the one and only Brian Jiguere!   The band became very popular  and it was while playing and traveling the country  and Canada that Brian met and became friends with many famous bluegrass  musicians such as Bill Harrell, Raymond Fairchild, Bill Monroe, Charlie Moore, Mac Wiseman, and many bluegrass bands.   They had quite a show and to this day  people  are still wanting to see it.  Eventually  Smokey started playing as a solo artist but  once  in a while a promoter will have a Smokey Greene and The Boys Reunion.

Brian accepted an invitation to play mandolin with the  popular band Blistered Fingers based in Waterville, Maine.  After three years the traveling became too much and Brian had to give up.  After all, through all  these years  Brian still worked a day job at IPCo in Corinth, NY.  Brian finally after 7 years of missing playing with a group he reached early retirement with  the closing of IPCo's  Mill  in Corinth,  NY.  Brian was attending a concert one night when he was told  by Mike Tirella of The Cabin Fever Band that any time he wished to he could come along and play.  Stating that music was the best therapy for him, Brian accepted the invitation and can be found doing just  that.

Brian loves what he is doing, and says "I  can personally say this music has changed my life style, my personality, along with my whole  family, and I think it is just tremendous."  Make plans now to hear Brian.  He has truly  one of the most beautiful voices  anywhere, and you won't  be  disappointed.