Bunky and the Big Band 

Bio 

Larry Jackson Jr. 

GUITAR AND VOCALS 

Larry “Bunky” Jackson Jr. has been a guitar player since 1976 in the Central Florida area. He started at the age of 6 years old in a musical family. His Father, Mother and Sister all played Bluegrass music. Larry started playing bluegrass music in a small central Florida band called the Bluegrass Little Bits. Traveling over the Southeastern US playing, and singing was a big part of his young life. 

In 1988, Larry was invited to join the Plant City, Florida based Southern Star Bluegrass band as the lead singer and guitarist. They played many fairs and festivals in the Central Florida are including a 23-year engagement at the Florida Strawberry Festival. 

In 1995 Southern Star Bluegrass was invited to perform at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Performing with Bill Monroe and many of the current Bluegrass bands during that time. Including the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Claire Lynch and Larry Stevenson Band. 

In 2005, Larry formed the band Southern Express Bluegrass and recently Bunky and the Big Band. Bringing his years of performing experience and professionalism to the stage. 

Jim DiSabito - past member

UPRIGHT AND ELECTRIC BASS, LEAD AND TENOR SINGER 

Born in Massachusetts, raised in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Jim's earliest musical influences were his father, James DiSabito, and the many musicians who attended the weekly jam sessions at his parents' home. From a young age, Jim frequented shows by Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys and Don Stover and attended scores of bluegrass festivals where he was exposed to--and jammed with--the best of regional and national bluegrass performers. 

Early in high school, Jim met Stan and Dan Tyminski, who invited him to play bass in their band, Green Mountain Bluegrass. Over the ensuing years, Jim played in many bluegrass and country bands in New England, including the critically acclaimed Bluegrass Gospel Project, which he co-founded and toured the Northeast for the first eight years of their 16-year run. Jim was featured on the first four of BGP's seven live recordings, singing lead and harmony parts and taking occasional turns on guitar and banjo. Jim is also a life-long member of the Manic Mountain Boys, whose reputation is nothing short of legendary in Northeast bluegrass circles. 

Before moving to Florida with his wife of 30 years and their four fabulous children (now grown), Jim shared the stage with the likes of the Gibson Brothers, Moondi Klein and Jimmy Gaudreau, and "claw grass" banjo great, Mark Johnson, as well as having performed at many of the biggest and best music festivals in the Northeast and nearby Canada. 

Jim joined Southern Express in 2015 and is grateful for the comradery of his talented bandmates, both on- and off-stage. Owing to his consummate musicianship and get-along-with disposition, Jim has become an integral member of the Southern Express Bluegrass Band and Bunky and the Big Band. 

Clint Dockery 

Clint plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and who knows what else he can do, as well as sing any part. He started playing when he was just 6 years old in the central Florida based band, Bluegrass Little Bits. We were joined at this time with Larry Bunky Jackson. Clint is one of the most respected bluegrass musicians performing over the nation from Maine to Florida and Kentucky to California. He has shared the stages with Bill Monroe, Sonny and Bobby Osborne and Jim and Jessie. He has backed many legions in bluegrass music such as James King and Mac Wiseman. He is well known in bluegrass circles. 

Donnie Harvey 

Donnie began playing the banjo at age nine. He played with the late great Larry Rice as a teen and the lessons learned are obvious when you hear him pick on stage with 41. Donnie has backed legions such as James King and Mac Wiseman. He has shared the stage with many current performing bluegrass music acts. Donnie also contributes his smooth baritone to the harmonies that are essential to the Bunky and the Big Band sound.