Jimmy Harnen
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Harnen is an adult contemporary singer, songwriter and drummer. He sang lead vocals for pop band Synch's 1989 Top Ten hit "Where Are You Now?
"
, a small town in Northeast Pennsylvania. In high school he played drums in the marching band. In 1985, he became the drummer for local band Synch, made up of lead vocalist Lou Butwin, guitarist Dave Abraham, bassist James A. Donnelly, and keyboardist Chuck Yarmey.
That year, the band recorded some of their songs, with Harnen singing on one song, "Where Are You Now?". He had written the song with a friend named Rich Congdon, and the band decided to release it as a single on the independent label, Micki Records. .
After receiving local airplay in the Wilkes-Barre market, Synch got signed to Columbia Records
, and "Where Are You Now" was re-recorded at The Warehouse in Philadelphia with former Dakota members Bill Kelly and Jerry Hludzik producing. The band would release the album Get the Feelin in 1986, and "Where Are You Now" reached #77 on Billboard Hot 100
, but fell off the chart the following week. Synch was soon dropped from Columbia. They spent the next few years trying to recapture the spotlight, before disbanding.
In 1989, the song resurfaced and began receiving a tremendous amount of airplay, with the song now credited as "Jimmy Harnen with Synch." WTG, a new label at the time, signed Jimmy and while the song was climbing the charts he began recording a full length release for the label. The song peaked at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Harnen's debut album, Can't Fight The Midnight featured well-known studio musicians including future-American Idol
judge Randy Jackson
(bass), Toto
's Steve Lukather
(guitar) and a guest appearance by one of Harnen's idols, REO Speedwagon
's Kevin Cronin
. The album and tour flopped and Harnen spent the next couple of years releasing occasional songs and tapes until his move to Nashville
, Tennessee
.
There, he worked as the National Promotional Director for DreamWorks Records
, and with management at Refugee Records. In early October, 2006, Harnen rose from Vice President of National Promotion to Senior Vice President of Promotion for Capitol Records
.
In April 2009, Harnen left Capitol and joined Big Machine Records
' founder Scott Borchetta (home to artists like Taylor Swift
), becoming president of new label Republic Nashville. Artists on the label include The Band Perry (whose debut single, "Hip To My Heart" was a Top 20 hit), the Eli Young Band, Sunny Sweeney, Fast Ryde and SHEL.
Where Are You Now (Jimmy Harnen & Synch song)
"Where Are You Now" is a power ballad by the Pennsylvania-based 1980s band Synch. Co-written and sung by Synch bandmember Jimmy Harnen, the song was initially credited solely to "Synch" when it was first released in 1986. In 1989, the song was re-released under the name "Jimmy Harnen with...
"
Biography
Harnen was born and raised in Plymouth, PennsylvaniaPlymouth, Pennsylvania
Plymouth is an incorporated borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States 4 miles west of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. Prior to its incorporation in 1866, it was part of Plymouth Township, established in 1769 by the Susquehanna Company and claimed by Connecticut based on...
, a small town in Northeast Pennsylvania. In high school he played drums in the marching band. In 1985, he became the drummer for local band Synch, made up of lead vocalist Lou Butwin, guitarist Dave Abraham, bassist James A. Donnelly, and keyboardist Chuck Yarmey.
That year, the band recorded some of their songs, with Harnen singing on one song, "Where Are You Now?". He had written the song with a friend named Rich Congdon, and the band decided to release it as a single on the independent label, Micki Records. .
After receiving local airplay in the Wilkes-Barre market, Synch got signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, and "Where Are You Now" was re-recorded at The Warehouse in Philadelphia with former Dakota members Bill Kelly and Jerry Hludzik producing. The band would release the album Get the Feelin in 1986, and "Where Are You Now" reached #77 on Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, but fell off the chart the following week. Synch was soon dropped from Columbia. They spent the next few years trying to recapture the spotlight, before disbanding.
In 1989, the song resurfaced and began receiving a tremendous amount of airplay, with the song now credited as "Jimmy Harnen with Synch." WTG, a new label at the time, signed Jimmy and while the song was climbing the charts he began recording a full length release for the label. The song peaked at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Harnen's debut album, Can't Fight The Midnight featured well-known studio musicians including future-American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
judge Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
(bass), Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
's Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
(guitar) and a guest appearance by one of Harnen's idols, REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
's Kevin Cronin
Kevin Cronin
Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist/ rhythm guitarist/ occasional pianist for the American rock band, REO Speedwagon. REO Speedwagon had two #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 written by Cronin, "Keep on Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling" .- Early life and career :Cronin was born in Evanston,...
. The album and tour flopped and Harnen spent the next couple of years releasing occasional songs and tapes until his move to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
There, he worked as the National Promotional Director for DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
, and with management at Refugee Records. In early October, 2006, Harnen rose from Vice President of National Promotion to Senior Vice President of Promotion for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
.
In April 2009, Harnen left Capitol and joined Big Machine Records
Big Machine Records
Big Machine Records is an Independent American record label specializing in country music artists. It was launched in 2005 by former DreamWorks Records executive Scott Borchetta. The label was part of a joint venture between Borchetta and country singer Toby Keith, although Keith dropped his...
' founder Scott Borchetta (home to artists like Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
), becoming president of new label Republic Nashville. Artists on the label include The Band Perry (whose debut single, "Hip To My Heart" was a Top 20 hit), the Eli Young Band, Sunny Sweeney, Fast Ryde and SHEL.