Messina, one part of Loggins/Messina…
As a singer, writer, guitarist, producer and engineer, Jim Messina has performed with such rock bands as Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Loggins & Messina, performing everything from country to pop and rock. Born in Texas, Jim Messina’s life was divided between his mother’s home in Texas and his father’s home in California. His father was a semi-professional guitarist and greatly influenced his son’s musical career.
Messina began playing the guitar at the age of five. As time progressed, he became interested in the guitar parts on Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson records. Living in California, he eventually developed an interest in ’60s surf tunes, including hits by Dick Dale and the Deltones and the Champs. Messina’s career began at the age of 17 when a deejay heard him and asked him to produce two albums. The albums were unsuccessful but launched Messina into a producing and engineering career. He stayed with the deejay as his assistant, producing and recording albums for new artists. With his new knowledge of producing, he eventually became the second engineer at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound. His work involved producing albums for music legends such as the Doors, Lee Michaels, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass — and, in the mid-’60s, Buffalo Springfield.
His first producing job was a six-album contract with Columbia Records to produce the albums of singer Kenny Loggins. Messina produced Loggins’ debut album, Sittin’ In. Messina had already made a name for himself in the music business and began touring with Loggins until he too made a name for himself. The combination of Loggins and Messina released nine albums in seven years with a sales figure of more than two million copies. Their style encompassed folk, country-rock, jazz and classical, with hit songs like “Watching the River Run,” “Travelin’ Blues,” “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “Pathway to Glory,”
With a few years off for rest and relaxation, Jim Messina re-entered the music industry, this time concentrating on a solo singing career. During the ’80s, he released three solo albums. His revival included singing and touring again with Poco on their 1989 reunion release, Legacy. Messina tours and performs new songs on a regular basis; the recent album River North is all new material but still features Messina’s signature country-rock sound. — Kim Summers
See more at the Jim Messina website.
Discography
"Live"
Jasperilla Music Co. 2012
Tracks: Watching The River Run, Thinking Of You, Traveling Blues, Carefree Country Day, Kind Woman, Child´s Claim To Fame, You Better Think Twice, Holiday Hotel, Blacktop Cowgirl, She´s Gotta Rock, You Need A Man, Sinners and Saints & Your Mama Don´t Dance.
Musicians on the Live album: Jim Messina and others.
Under A Mojito Moon
Jasperilla Music Co. 2010
Tracks: Mojito Moon (Michaela´s Song), Just Keep On Lookin´, Addicted To Drama, We Gotta Get Back, Jealousy & Keep Me In Mind.
Musicians on the One More Mile album: Jim Messina and others.
One More Mile
Wounded Bird Records 2008
Tracks: One More Mile, Meant To Be Together, I Got Radio, Playin' That Rock N' Roll, The Island, Treat Her Right, We Got To Get Back, Big Tease, Can't Live With Out You & Forever My Love.
Musicians on the One More Mile album: Jim Messina, Chas Sanford, Mark Leonard, Alan Pasqua, Robbie Buchanan, Jai Winding, Peter Wolf, Michael Boddicker, Jim Saad, Doane Perry, Ernie Watts, Tommy Funderburk, Chuck Cochran, Pauline Wilson, Edie Lehmann, Henry Kapono, Patrick Simmons & Bridget Benenate.
Messina
Wounded Bird Records 2008
Tracks: Money Alone, Sweet Love, Break The Chain, Child Of My Dreams, Whispering Waters, Lovin' You Every Minute, Stay The Night, It's All Right Here & Move Into Your Heart.
Musicians on the Messina album: Jim Messina, Michael Brady, Jeff Porcaro, Joe Porcaro, Victor Feldman, James Studer, Tom Hensley, Neil Larsen, Jerry Hey, Jim Horn, Chuck Findley, David Grisman, Darol Anger, Silvia Woods, Jin Hochanadle, Pauline Wilson, Alan Thornhill, Jannie Littlepage & Craig Thomas.
Oasis
Evangeline Records 2005
Tracks: New And Different Way, Do You Want To Dance, Seeing You (For The First Time), Free To Be Me, Talk To Me, Love Is Here, Waitin' On You, (Is This) Lovin' You Lady & The Magic Of Love.
Musicians on the Oasis album: Jim Messina, Wayne Nelson, Tim Studer, Tony Moreno, Milt Holland, Craig Thomas & Jeff Elliott.
Watching The River Run "Revisited"
Jasperilla Music Co. 2005
Tracks: Follow Your Dreams, Watching The River Run, Whispering Waters, Mexican Minutes, Listen To A Country Song, Child's Claim To Fame, Kind Woman, You Better Think Twice, Your Mama Don't Dance, Angry Eyes & Peace Of Mind.
Musicians on the Watching The River Run "Revisited" album: Jim Messina, Eddie Tuduri, Gary Oleyar, Joe McGlohan, Dan Castleman, Crystal Bernard, Eddie Bayers, Brent Rowan, Michael Rhodes, Larry Franklin, Joey Miskulin & Ira Dean.
Watching The River Run
River North Records 1996
Tracks: Follow Your Dreams, Watching The River Run, Whispering Waters, Mexican Minutes, Listen To A Country Song, Child's Claim To Fame, Kind Woman, You Better Think Twice, Your Mama Don't Dance, Angry Eyes & Peace Of Mind.
Musicians on the Watching The River Run album: Jim Messina, Eddie Tuduri, Gary Oleyar, Joe McGlohan, Dan Castleman, Crystal Bernard, Eddie Bayers, Brent Rowan, Michael Rhodes, Larry Franklin, Joey Miskulin & Ira Dean.
One More Mile
Warner Bros 1983
Tracks: One More Mile, Meant To Be Together, I Got Radio, Playin' That Rock N' Roll, The Island, Treat Her Right, We Got To Get Back, Big Tease, Can't Live With Out You & Forever My Love.
Musicians on the One More Mile album: Jim Messina, Chas Sanford, Mark Leonard, Alan Pasqua, Robbie Buchanan, Jai Winding, Peter Wolf, Michael Boddicker, Jim Saad, Doane Perry, Ernie Watts, Tommy Funderburk, Chuck Cochran, Pauline Wilson, Edie Lehmann, Henry Kapono, Patrick Simmons & Bridget Benenate.
Messina
Warner Bros 1981
Tracks: Money Alone, Sweet Love, Break The Chain, Child Of My Dreams, Whispering Waters, Lovin' You Every Minute, Stay The Night, It's All Right Here & Move Into Your Heart.
Musicians on the Messina album: Jim Messina, Michael Brady, Jeff Porcaro, Joe Porcaro, Victor Feldman, James Studer, Tom Hensley, Neil Larsen, Jerry Hey, Jim Horn, Chuck Findley, David Grisman, Darol Anger, Silvia Woods, Jin Hochanadle, Pauline Wilson, Alan Thornhill, Jannie Littlepage & Craig Thomas.
Oasis
Columbia Records 1979
Tracks: New And Different Way, Do You Want To Dance, Seeing You (For The First Time), Free To Be Me, Talk To Me, Love Is Here, Waitin' On You, (Is This) Lovin' You Lady & The Magic Of Love.
Musicians on the Oasis album: Jim Messina, Wayne Nelson, Tim Studer, Tony Moreno, Milt Holland, Craig Thomas & Jeff Elliott.