Jim Lauderdale
Grammy-winning singer/songwrit
Two-time Grammy-winning singer and master songwriter Jim Lauderdale is both a "songwriter's songwriter," who's written/co-written many modern classics for iconic artists, as well as an intuitive sideman, who's enhanced the music of a bevy of esteemed musicians. As a solo artist, since 1986 up until now, he's created a body work spanning 28 albums of imaginative roots music, encompassing country, bluegrass, soul, R&B and rock. Along the way he's won awards, garnered critical acclaim, and earned himself an engaged fan base. Today Jim treats his fans to a new adventure, exploring the redemptive traditional sounds of Memphis and Nashville with his double album, Soul Searching: Vol. 1 Memphis/Vol. 2. Nashville (Sky Crunch Records).
This profound entry in Jim's artistic continuum represents an immersive journey into the heart of Americana music different than any of Jim's previous work. Jim recorded each album in hallowed halls with some of the finest and most respected purveyors of these soulfully indigenous sounds. Both albums feature roots savants Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars playing. Vol. 1 Memphis was tracked at the legendary Royal Studios, home base for producer Willie Mitchell and Hi Records, and where classic Al Green songs such as "Tired Of Being Alone" and "Let's Stay Together" were cut, along with R&B smashes from Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, and Bobby "Blue" Bland. Jim produced the album with Luther and Boo Mitchell, calling on some of Memphis' finest musicians including Charles and Leroy Hodges, Alvin Youngblood Hart and others, to capture the city's unique sound. Vol. 2 Nashville, produced by Jim and Luther, was tracked at the historic Nashville Victor Studio A, a treasure of recording history; the site of iconic sessions by such artists as Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, George Jones, among many others. Jim's recording was a celebration of the studio beingsaved after a prolonged fight to keep its doors open. Soul Searching: Vol. 1 Memphis/Vol. 2. Nashville (Sky Crunch Records) is a 26-song release available as a double album, and, conveniently, as individual albums.
Throughout his three-decade career, Jim Lauderdale has helped pave the way for the current Americana movement, recording albums and writing songs that cross genres from country, rock, folk and bluegrass. Jim has written songs and worked with some of the finest artists in traditional and modern music, including Robert Hunter, Ralph Stanley, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Buddy Miller, Lucinda Williams, John Oates, Solomon Burke, Lee Ann Womack, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Blake Shelton, the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and Gary Allan among many, many others. He also co-hosts a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Buddy Miller, "The Buddy & Jim Show," which NPR's Fresh Air described as "...highly entertaining..." He is also co-host of Music City Roots, the weekly live and radio, podcast and PBS series.
In 2014, the documentary, Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts, was released, celebrating Jim's unconventional career. In 2010, Jim was honored with the SESAC Inspiration Award. Most recently, he received the prestigious American Eagle Award from the National Music Council along with Kris Kristofferson.
- Website:
- http://www.jimlauderdale.com/