Jim Casey is a nationally known singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Norfolk, Nebraska, hometown of Johnny Carson, Jim has been a professional songwriter since signing with Gold Dust Music out of Memphis, Tennessee. At age 16, he joined a teen rock band, which became The Smoke Ring. The Smoke ring had national hit records while touring coast to coast and making television appearances, including Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. A move to the south and Nashville, Tennessee produced writing deals with Jack Music, Inc., Welk Music and Universal Music. Over his songwriting career his songs have been recorded by Country Artists, Charlie Pride, Bobby Bare, Sammi Smith, Waylon Jennings and The Oak Ridge Boys. Pop and folk artist Ritchie Havens cut two of Casey’s songs for the Miami produced movie, Sealed With a Kiss. He also wrote “Fade Away” for legendary blues artist, Albert Collins, as well as over fifty other songs recorded by various artists. Among the recordings Casey has done himself, is the album, Blue Oasis, which garnered national airplay for him during his career, and is scheduled for re-release on cd in 2007. He has led songwriting seminars for the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Songwriters Guild of America, and the San Diego Songwriters Guild.
Jim Casey is an eclectic mix of the different styles of music he was exposed to, growing up in Nebraska. “We had a huge ballroom in our hometown, Norfolk, Nebraska, and we heard everything from Rock ‘n’ Roll to Big Band. All the great performers came to the Midwest to play. Friday night it might have been Buddy Knox or Conway Twitty, Saturdays night the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, and then on Sunday, we’d go back out to the “grownup” dance and hear a big band, jazz, or polka. I learned to play guitar, standing in front of that stage. As soon, as the band would come off, I was right back at the stage door, asking the guitar player questions and getting tips.” Casey got his first shot at playing live with a band when he was 14. “I used to fill in on lead guitar for the older guys, playing Country music at one of the roadhouses outside of town. Mom would drop me off at 7:00, and come back and pick us up at midnight. I thought I was good, while the truth was; I was probably the only one who would play with some of these guys. Finally, a really fine group, The Classics, hired me to play guitar with their rock band. It was a different world, playing B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Freddie King, Buddy Holly, Jimmy Reed, and lots of stuff I’d never heard. I fell in love with rock and blues.”
Casey’s experience led him to a spot in another local group, Little Joe and the Ramrods, a band who changed their name to The Smoke Ring, and found success on the Billboard Charts with the Buddah Records label. “We got a chance to record at the Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a dream come true, with a major label deal, and working with Allen Reynolds, Dickey Lee, Knox Phillips, and occasionally with Sam Phillips, himself. Being exposed to the Sun Records mentality, changed my way of thinking forever. I started understanding what originality meant, and how an artist interacts with his audience.”
Casey’s guitar playing and songwriting talent led him to a contract with Gold Dust Music, and a move to Nashville, where he worked for the legendary Jack Clement
And was exposed in the studio to Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and songwriting pals like Bob McDill, Billy Joe Shaver, Vince Matthews, and Shel Silverstein. “My dream was to come to Nashville to become a record producer. But, somewhere in the course of performing and just hanging out, I got turned on to a lot of great writers and started co-writing more and more, and finally getting cuts on other artists. I found out I had a little talent at writing, and it panned out for me over the course of my career.”
Today, Jim Casey has a stage presence that is undeniable. His band is always one of the best! He relates to his audience and gets them involved…he is at home. A talented writer and performer, Jim Casey continues to do what he does best… entertain!
SOURCE: https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JimCasey