Jim Cornwell

Jim Cornwell lives in Franklin, Tennessee, in the center of the rapidly growing Americana music scene, and next door to Nashville, Music City USA. Living in this area of immense creativity, helps to keep Jim on his musical toes pursuing the sound of fresh tradition. Jim's most recent 2018 release "Vintage Hymn Picks" follows the format of his first four instrumental CD's featuring Jim playing the acoustic guitar and mandolin. These beloved, but so often neglected, melodies are brought to life in tasteful, simple arrangements to allow the listener to sing along or close their eyes and be transported to the wooden pews of the little country church down the road.  

 

His 2015 release, "Nothing Left To Break," breaks new ground being his first vocal CD, and reveals 14 of his original songs, introducing Jim Cornwell the songwriter. His songs are still driven by his acoustic guitar, accompanied by his mandolin, but they also include the addition of dobro, banjo, and pedal steel guitar.  Country? Folk? Bluegrass? HIs sound is more like a combination of all three which some might label Americana.  Jim grew up listening to great songwriters like Jim Croce, John Denver, and James Taylor who inspired Jim to pursue honest, and matter-of-fact songwriting.  Jim believes in recording songs so they sound like you are listening to him in your own living room where you can hear all of the words and still hear all of the instruments.  His songs are about life's gains and losses, love and perseverance, the common ground that we all share.

 

Jim's musical passion began flatpicking acoustic, steel string lead guitar inspired by the legendary Doc Watson, who he was privileged to open for when Doc was touring with the great Mark O'Connor.  Two of Jim's original mandolin compositions, on his "Lost in the Woods" CD, were nominated for "Best Roots Instrumental" at the Just Plain Folks Awards in 2006.  He also wrote the title track to his "At The Water's Edge" CD and the original mandolin piece"Old Eagle" featured on the same CD.  His Christmas CD, "12 Christmas Picks," features traditional Christmas carols.  

 

 

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