Jim Henry (folk singer)
Encyclopedia
Fans first discovered Jim Henry in the Sundogs, an eclectic "swamp-boogie-swing" group that was one of New England's hottest touring club and dance hall bands in the late 80's/early 90's. In 1993, Jim released his debut solo disc, Into the Blue, whose title track garnered national praise and still gets airplay 15 years later. Signed to Signature Sounds in 1995, Jim released Jacksonville, which hit the upper reaches of the Gavin Americana chart and received significant airplay throughout the country.
In 1997, Jim joined with acoustic axe man Brooks Williams
to record Ring Some Changes, a soulful album of guitar duets which continues to be a favorite among fans. Never straying too far from his small-town roots, Jim Henry released The Wayback in 1999, whose title track is an anthem to the importance of family. The disc, recorded live and unedited, features cream-of-the-crop players.
It was about this time that Jim started to explore the world of being a side man. Though not the usual career path, the shift allowed him to do a little on-the-job training with some other instruments. He started to play mandolin and dobro and picked up his electric guitar once again. He soon found himself being asked to play with other folks. Lots of folks. The Burns Sisters
. Then Mark Erelli
. The Kitchen Table. Deb Talan
. The Weepies
. Cliff Eberhart. The Nields
. As his chops improved, so did his resume. And so did his arsenal of available instruments. To this day, it's not uncommon to see Jim on stage with an asortment of instruments from his collection: acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, dobro, lap steel, baritone, and 12-string guitar.
In 2003, Jim got a last-minute call from Tracy Grammer
, who - following the sudden, untimely death of her partner Dave Carter
- found herself suddenly in need of an accompanist on the east coast. Jim Henry was the first name on the lips of people in the know. In only 3 days Jim learned the lion's share of the Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
repertoire. Tracy and Jim's first show at the Iron Horse Music Hall
in Northampton, MA went so well they have been playing together ever since. Says Tracy, "I can't imagine not having Jim by my side. I have come to count on his sensitive playing and glorious singing. He is a musical force whose presence is huge without over whelming, always subtle and reliably strong." Tracy's first solo release, Flower of Avalon, features Jim on dobro, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitars and backing vocals-something on every track.
It was during the Avalon sessions that Jim met his long-time guitar hero John Jennings
and songwriting hero Mary Chapin Carpenter
. Jennings was sufficiently impressed with Jim's ability that in 2006 he asked Jim to sub for him on a show he couldn't do with Mary Chapin. Subsequently, Mary Chapin asked Jim to join her band for her 2007 summer tour.
http://www.jimhenry.net/history.html
As of August 2010, he's still touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter, with their final performance of the season being at the Filene Center in Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
, in Vienna, VA.
http://www.jimhenry.net/index.html
In 1997, Jim joined with acoustic axe man Brooks Williams
Brooks Williams
Brooks Williams is an American acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter. His style combines roots, jazz, blues, classical, and folk...
to record Ring Some Changes, a soulful album of guitar duets which continues to be a favorite among fans. Never straying too far from his small-town roots, Jim Henry released The Wayback in 1999, whose title track is an anthem to the importance of family. The disc, recorded live and unedited, features cream-of-the-crop players.
It was about this time that Jim started to explore the world of being a side man. Though not the usual career path, the shift allowed him to do a little on-the-job training with some other instruments. He started to play mandolin and dobro and picked up his electric guitar once again. He soon found himself being asked to play with other folks. Lots of folks. The Burns Sisters
The Burns Sisters
Folk, pop and rock are given a Celtic slant by Ithaca, New York-based vocalists the Burns Sisters. Accompanied by Rich DePaolo's guitar, Eric Aceto's fiddle and their own guitar and mandolin, the three sisters—Annie, Marie and Jeannie—harmonize with heartfelt spirit...
. Then Mark Erelli
Mark Erelli
Mark Erelli is an American folk singer/songwriter from Reading, Massachusetts. He currently resides in Massachusetts. Erelli is a 1996 graduate of Bates College, where he majored in Biology, and holds a Master's Degree in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Massachusetts...
. The Kitchen Table. Deb Talan
Deb Talan
Deborah Ruth "Deb" Talan is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for being in the folk-pop duo The Weepies.-Early life and career:...
. The Weepies
The Weepies
The Weepies are an indie pop-folk duo of married singer-songwriters Deb Talan and Steve Tannen. Their music has been described as "subtly intoxicating folk-pop".-Formation and early years :...
. Cliff Eberhart. The Nields
The Nields
The Nields was a folk-rock band that performed from 1991 to 2001. It toured much of the United States, performing with artists such as Dar Williams, Moxy Früvous, and Catie Curtis and appeared at many folk festivals...
. As his chops improved, so did his resume. And so did his arsenal of available instruments. To this day, it's not uncommon to see Jim on stage with an asortment of instruments from his collection: acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, dobro, lap steel, baritone, and 12-string guitar.
In 2003, Jim got a last-minute call from Tracy Grammer
Tracy Grammer
Tracy Grammer is an American folk singer known for her work as half of the folk duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer and for the solo career that she has continued since Carter's death...
, who - following the sudden, untimely death of her partner Dave Carter
Dave Carter
Dave Carter was an American folk singer-songwriter who described his style as "post-modern mythic American folk music." He was one half of the duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, who were heralded as the new "voice of modern folk music" in the months before Carter's unexpected death in July 2002...
- found herself suddenly in need of an accompanist on the east coast. Jim Henry was the first name on the lips of people in the know. In only 3 days Jim learned the lion's share of the Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer were an American folk duo who released three albums from 1998 to 2001, as well as additional material released after Dave Carter's death...
repertoire. Tracy and Jim's first show at the Iron Horse Music Hall
Iron Horse Music Hall
The Iron Horse Music Hall is a music venue located in Northampton, Massachusetts, west of Boston and north of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its motto is Music Alone Shall Live...
in Northampton, MA went so well they have been playing together ever since. Says Tracy, "I can't imagine not having Jim by my side. I have come to count on his sensitive playing and glorious singing. He is a musical force whose presence is huge without over whelming, always subtle and reliably strong." Tracy's first solo release, Flower of Avalon, features Jim on dobro, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitars and backing vocals-something on every track.
It was during the Avalon sessions that Jim met his long-time guitar hero John Jennings
John Jennings
John Jennings, Jr. was a Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1939 to 1951.-Biography:...
and songwriting hero Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
. Jennings was sufficiently impressed with Jim's ability that in 2006 he asked Jim to sub for him on a show he couldn't do with Mary Chapin. Subsequently, Mary Chapin asked Jim to join her band for her 2007 summer tour.
http://www.jimhenry.net/history.html
As of August 2010, he's still touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter, with their final performance of the season being at the Filene Center in Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, known locally in the Washington, D.C. area as simply Wolf Trap, is a performing arts center located on 130 acres of national park land in Wolf Trap, Virginia...
, in Vienna, VA.
http://www.jimhenry.net/index.html
Discography
- Into the Blue (1993)
- Jacksonville (1995, out of print, available as a download)
- Ring Some Changes (with Brooks WilliamsBrooks WilliamsBrooks Williams is an American acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter. His style combines roots, jazz, blues, classical, and folk...
) (1997) - The Wayback (1999)
- One-Horse Town (2005)
- King of Hearts (2008)