Jim Thorburn

JIM THORBURN, LAWYER – PIANIST?

Jim Thorburn, a successful, well-respected lawyer in Colorado has put both feet into the music scene. A lawyer? He is listed in several Who's Who publications, was president of the local chamber of commerce, and has served on several governmental boards - so why music?

Before going to law school, Jim was actively involved in the entertainment industry as a pianist in Los Angeles.

• During this period, Jim performed and/or recorded with many name artists including, Connie Stevens, Dash Crofts, Danny Deardorff, Maureen McGovern, Louie Shelton, Danny O’Keefe, A&M Records, Latin Division's platinum selling acts Antonio de Jesus and Sergio Fachelli. Jim also performed or recorded with David Benoit, Grant Geisman, Jamie Glaser, Lorraine Feather, Frank Carroll, Mark Guerrero, and Los Hermanos.

• Jim wrote arrangements and conducted for the international OTI Festival in 1987– broadcast by UniVision in 60 countries.

• Jim and Sergio Fachelli wrote the introductory theme for “Mexico Estamos Contigo” – the international disaster relief fundraiser for the earthquake in Mexico City in 1986. The fundraiser earned over $20 Million Dollars.

Personal and family reasons caused Jim to relocate to Denver, where he graduated University of Denver Law School, and now has a burgeoning practice.

In April of 2000, an arson fire destroyed Jim's office. It was not a client but a disgruntled opposing party who set the blaze. Jim was doing his work a little too well for this person!

The destruction of everything that he had worked for led Jim to reflect seriously on his life. He concluded that his passion was really in music, and decided to follow up on that passion.

Jim began writing and recording songs, which ultimately became part of the "Coconuts" CD. His tremendous writing and playing abilities astonished his friends and business associates. After a tidal wave of support and encouragement, Jim completed "Coconuts," which was released on November 25, 2003.

Last Summer, “Jamie’s Song” from “Coconuts” received national radio airplay and attained a Top 100 position on the FMQB Adult Contemporary charts. “Jamie’s Song” attained a Number 1 position on WAFY, Frederick, MD and was in the top 5 for over 4 weeks! “Jamie’s Song” was also consistently in the Top 20 on KXXO, Olympia, Washington, for most of 2004. Over a year later, Jim is still receiving significant BMI royalties for the commercial airplay of “Jamie’s Song.” The haunting melody made “Jamie’s Song” one of the nation’s top wedding songs. A Google search of “’Jim Thorburn’ ‘Jamie’s Song’” reveals numerous DJ’s who have added “Jamie’s Song” to their repertoire. Musicremedy.com shows “Jamie’s Song” as one of the national top hits of 2004!

Several of Jim’s songs received the “xx Recommended Airplay” rating from Eric Norberg’s “Adult Contemporary Music Research Letter.” www.ACMusicResearch.com These songs include “Jamie’s Song,” “It’s Christmas,” “St. Marie” and “The Fisherman’s Apprentice” (from his upcoming CD). The ACMRL recommendation for airplay sprung “Jamie’s Song” into the national spotlight in 2004.

Jim will release his follow-up CD “The Fisherman’s Apprentice” in the first quarter of 2006. “The Fisherman’s Apprentice” shows great commercial promise. Two of the songs have already received the “xx Recommended Airplay” rating from ACMRL. Also, “The Fisherman’s Apprentice” includes the song “Sketches” which has historical significance. Jim discovered that Beethoven had written sketches for a 10th Symphony – a symphony Beethoven never completed. These sketches inspired Jim to “collaborate” with Beethoven to create a modern melody -reminiscent of the main theme from the First Movement of the 10th Symphony. Testing of “Sketches” at ACMRL has not been completed, but Mr. Norberg is confident that “Sketches” will receive “xx Recommended Airplay.”