Jim Dow Songwriter
I am not really a band :) I am a lyricist, composer, singer and least of all a guitar / piano player. My main focus is creating songs for other performing artists and for film.
You can also find me and more details about my interests, blogs, etc:
CDBABY LINK for JIMMY DOW: A Pill For Every Mood - 2005 Songwriter's Catalog
NOTE: DISTRIBUTION STILL IN PROCESS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO SONGS CLICKING ON ABOVE IMAGE.
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My daughter, Melissa is the artist for my "Pills for Every Mood - Songwriter's Catalog, 2005".
Melissa is also a resident artist for Rock Toons:
http://www.rocktoons.com/
She is an active member of Deviant Art:
http://moneypenny.deviantart.com/gallery/
Her personal web site is:
http://www.melissadowillustration.com/
Please support fellow starving artists. Melissa is Good! Please contact her for any cover art you may be interested in for yourself or band.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Not much history to tell. I was born into a musical family, immersed in classical, choral and gospel music (my father was a music minister). My father was an accomplished vocalist, music conductor and voice teacher: he gave me any "vocal chops" I might have.
My band involvement has been sporadic over the years: mainly involved in folk music and blues.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Just play some local coffee houses in Portland, Oregon USA.
Your musical influences
What to expect? That's my problem :) I don't write one specific genre of music. So, my songs are going to be all over the map.
Common sounds you will hear from me are:
- Folk, Blues and Jazz
- Strong vocal and lyric focus.
- Cross-over music into alternative, industrial, country.
My musical influences (giving up my age here):
- My father.
- Classical: Vivaldi, Handel, Bach
- Folk: Gordon Lightfoot (one of my favorites for strong lyrics and vocals).
- Folk/Rock/World Music: Bruce Cockburn (his finger picking, melding of different styles, strong lyrics with social/spiritual undertones and just a unique voice to top it all).
- 12 String Picking: Leo Kottke -- listening to his music, experimenting caused me to stick with creating a unique sound by finger picking (and slide) on a 12 string guitar.
- Old Country Blues Musicians: Lightening Hopkins, Rev. Gary Davis, (many more).
- Electric Blues/Rock: Eric Clapton (Cream, Blind Faith, etc.), Led Zepplin (oh, my gosh..they still send chills up my spine), Jimi Hendrix (soo much more depth to his music than meets the eye).
- Too many current artists that I love and listen to for influence.
What equipment do you use?
Guild 12 string accoustic, old 6 string acoustic and piano/synth. I record on my laptop now. I had many guitars, mixers, out-board gear, etc...but sold it all. At the time I needed money to help pay for daughter's college; I also needed to dump all the technology because I was spending more time playing with equipment (and pretending like I knew how to mix music) than I was writing lyrics and music. I love the technology, but I guess I'm not disciplined enough -- I can spend hours playing with the gear and not get anything done :)
Anything else?
I would love to get my music placed with the right performer or agent. I just want to get my music out there. Also, I would enjoy some collaborative projects.
