Jim Wyly
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1979 | SELF
Music
Press
Jim Wyly, The Artisan. After about 40 years on the Texas music scene, the now 71-year-old Jim Wyly has finally gotten around to releasing a solo album. It’s a stunner. Other artists will undoubtedly be tempted to cover some of the gems on this all-originals program but they’ll be hard pressed to top the writer’s versions, which benefit from his emotive vocals and terrific understated backup that includes Ray Bonneville on harmonica and Javier Chaparro on violin. Among the best tracks: “Suddenly I’m Single,” the first-person tale of a man who arrives home to find new locks on the door and his possessions scattered on the lawn; the title cut, about creative people; and “Please Nessie,” a mournful vignette about a woman who apparently drowned herself. Chuck Hawthorne, another late-blooming Texas musician whose own excellent debut came out in 2015, did a terrific job of producing the set. - Jeff Burger - The Morton Report & No Depression
“Moving from acoustic strums to a solid backbeat, Jim Wyly is the guide, showing his skills as a storyteller with The Artisan, his recent release. The voice of Jim Wyly clings to the words like a patina, his delivery polishing to a shine tales of love and loss, life and legend.” - Danny McCloskey - The Alternate Root
I count "Coyotes of Legend" among the finest newly minted songs I've heard in 2018, and some of the others are not far behind. They're worth the time and the purchase of the album. - Jerome Clark - Rambles.net
An album with as much beauty as sadness, the songs unfold like stories from a life well lived and are filled with crisp, warm tones and a genuine, heartfelt delivery. There’s a keen sense of timelessness and familiarity on this album that nearly makes you feel like you’ve heard these songs before- almost like seeing an old friend and immediately feeling comfortable. - Tom Haugen - Take Effect Reviews
"With a 40-year back catalog of amazing songs to choose from and how you sing them from the soul each and every time, it’s been a gift to be witness to." - Chuck Hawthorne
"The Artisan" listed on Top 40 Americana Albums of 2018. - Viola Krouse - Making A Scene
Jim Wyly - for his album The Artisan and for crafting as a fine a collection of songs as I have heard in a while. - Joe Wolfe-Mazeres - Ear To The Ground
Discography
Unpegged - Movin Target 2008
Hangin' The Moon - The Lunar Rollers 2012
The Artisan - Jim Wyly 2018
Photos
Bio
Jim Wyly was born and raised in Tyler, Texas and has spent the last 40 years living and playing in the Austin area, so it would be easy to label him a “Texas Songwriter”. While that may be the easy route and very much true, it would also be lazy and a mistake to box him in with that label. Wyly has spent those 40 years honing a craft that expands far beyond the box of his home state.
That’s not to say that Texas is not flowing through the blood of the songs he writes. For years as a member of several bands including Movin Target and The Lunar Rollers, Jim has been widely regarded by his peers as a master of the songwriting craft. At the young age of 71, Wyly is stepping away from the sound and life of being in a band and releasing his solo debut, The Artisan.
Wyly’s influences come from seemingly every direction, including his father’s experience in the big band scene of the 30’s, the folk and country of the 50’s-70’s and the rock n roll of the Beatles. Music has always been a driving force in Wyly’s life. In junior high school he learned the keyboard, before turning to the guitar in his senior year. While attending college in Nacogdoches he played around campus as part of a four piece folk outfit and after graduation he moved first to Houston where he soaked in the thriving folk scene of the early 70’s. By 1973 he was living in Austin, an area he has not left since and began to discover his voice as a songwriter.
The last four decades plus have found Jim moving in and out of the music scene while balancing the needs of everyday life. From honky tonks to coffee houses, the stage and song have always called him back. In 2016 he made the decision to dedicate himself full time as solo artist and his unique blend of soul, country, folk and rock songwriting alongside his animated and crowd captivating performance has been increasing his fan base ever since.
The last four decades plus have found Jim moving in and out of the music scene while balancing the needs of everyday life. From honky tonks to coffee houses, the stage and song have always called him back. In 2016 he made the decision to dedicate himself full time as solo artist and his unique blend of soul, country, folk and rock songwriting alongside his animated and crowd captivating performance has been increasing his fan base ever since.
Artisan finds Wyly in the studio for the first time not only as a solo artist but as a co-producer as well along side fellow songwriter, Chuck Hawthorne. The album is stripped down to allow the lyrical content standout. With songs spanning Wyly’s entire songwriting career and varied subject matter, Artisan serves as a perfect introduction to Jim and is a culmination of 40 years of living, writing, and performing form a man that has done his share of them all. Accompanying Jim on several tracks are folk blues legend, Ray Bonneville on harp and Grammy nominated country singer, Libby Koch on background vocals. The finished product, is a record that will please listeners with a discerning ear for lyrical content and any fans of folk, Americana or alt country music. Following the release, Jim will continue doing what he does best, performing the songs live in front of captivated audiences.
Band Members
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