Jenny Blackadder was born and raised in Christchurch New Zealand, and started her musical life at the age of 8 playing the Ukulele, soon followed by the Guitar.

When she was 22 she was given an old Banjo and was determined to master it as she loved its happy sound. She started playing Traditional Old Time Banjo then switched and formed a Jazz band, and went on playing Dixieland and Trad Jazz for a few years.

Jenny and her family then moved south to live, where, because there were other Jazz bands already playing there, she took up Country Music and just loved it.

That was the start of her amazing Country journey...

About this time Jenny also started playing the Pedal Steel Guitar and enjoyed playing both of these instruments in a country band. And in her spare time she loved to teach music to children. Playing concerts for charity also kept her really busy raising money for worthy causes.

Her rise into the top list of Country Entertainers in NZ began in 1979 at the South Island Country Music Awards in Christchurch where she took out 4 awards including The "South Island Overall Country Music Artist" and "The Most Outstanding Country Music Artist of the year."

The following year saw Jenny travel to The NZ New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore, where she won the "Top Instrumentalist" and the 1980 "Overall Gold Guitar Award."

1981 saw Jenny go to Australia to tour with some top Australian Artists and to play at the Tamworth Country Music Festival where she won the 1981. Top Instrumentalist of the year.On returning to New Zealand Jenny recorded another 2 records, Queen of the Banjo and Banjo Gospel for RCA-BMG NZ.

From 1982 –2002 Jenny continued on playing and she had 3 appearances on the television series “That’s Country NZ” and 2  appearances on  “The Patsy Riggir Country Specials” and  all the telethon television charity specials.

During that time she also had the pleasure of touring with and guesting with some of the greats in the music industry……..Johnny Tilitson (USA); George Hamilton 1V (USA) Billy Armstrong (fiddler USA) Stella Parton (USA) Joe Edwards (guitarist for Grand Ole Opry); Ronnie Ronaldo UK and many other top Australian and New Zealand Entertainers.

2002 was a real highlight for Jenny as she was inducted into “ New Zealand’s Country Music Hands of Fame”.

In 2009 she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for her services to country music.