Jim Rooney (music)
Encyclopedia
Jim Rooney is an American music producer whose credits include Nanci Griffith
's Other Voices, Other Rooms (which earned Rooney a Grammy Award
for production), Hal Ketchum
's Past the Point of Rescue
, Iris DeMent
's Infamous Angel, John Prine
's Aimless Love
and many other widely hailed albums. In recognition for his contribution to Americana music, Rooney received a lifetime achievement award from the Americana Music Association
in 2009.
Rooney was a pioneer in the genre that would come to be labeled "Americana." He began his career in the Boston area during the early 1960s and served as director and talent coordinator for the Newport Folk Festival
. He moved to Woodstock, N.Y., in the early 1970s to manage Albert Grossman
's Bearsville Sound Studio
. After moving to Nashville, Rooney released a series of solo albums and produced projects by Townes Van Zandt
, Hal Ketchum
, Bonnie Raitt
and others.
Says Griffith, "Jim Rooney is the number one reason I have a career. He gave me confidence in my writing, inspiration to write, and handed me the want ads to look for an apartment in Nashville."
Rooney graduated from Amherst College
in 1960 and later obtained a master's degree in classical literature from Harvard University
. He and his wife divide their time between Nashville, Vermont, and County Galway, Ireland.
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
's Other Voices, Other Rooms (which earned Rooney a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for production), Hal Ketchum
Hal Ketchum
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
's Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue is the title of an album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. His first major-label album, it was released in 1991 on Curb Records and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album produced four singles for him on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
, Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
's Infamous Angel, John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
's Aimless Love
Aimless Love
Aimless Love is the eighth album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1984. It is his first release on his independent record label, Oh Boy Records...
and many other widely hailed albums. In recognition for his contribution to Americana music, Rooney received a lifetime achievement award from the Americana Music Association
Americana Music Association
The Americana Music Association is a trade organization developed to provide professional support and to promote awareness of Americana music. Toward these ends the organization works with artists, radio stations, record labels, publishers, and others to create networking opportunities and to...
in 2009.
Rooney was a pioneer in the genre that would come to be labeled "Americana." He began his career in the Boston area during the early 1960s and served as director and talent coordinator for the Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...
. He moved to Woodstock, N.Y., in the early 1970s to manage Albert Grossman
Albert Grossman
Albert Bernard Grossman was an American entrepreneur and manager in the American folk music scene and rock and roll. He was most famous as the manager of Bob Dylan between 1962 and 1970.-Biography:...
's Bearsville Sound Studio
Bearsville Studios
Bearsville Studios was a recording studio at Bearsville, New York just west of Woodstock, New York.The studio was opened in 1969 by Albert Grossman, manager of Bob Dylan, The Band, Janis Joplin and Todd Rundgren....
. After moving to Nashville, Rooney released a series of solo albums and produced projects by Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, Hal Ketchum
Hal Ketchum
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
and others.
Says Griffith, "Jim Rooney is the number one reason I have a career. He gave me confidence in my writing, inspiration to write, and handed me the want ads to look for an apartment in Nashville."
Rooney graduated from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1960 and later obtained a master's degree in classical literature from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He and his wife divide their time between Nashville, Vermont, and County Galway, Ireland.
External links and references
- "Jim Rooney," The Encyclopedia of Country Music, (Oxford 2004).
- Peter Cooper, The Tennessean, "Jim Rooney honored by Americana Music Association," August 6, 2009
- CMT News, "Record Producer Jim Rooney to Receive Americana Lifetime Achievement Honor," August 7, 2009
- Simone Solondz, "The Producer: Why Jim Rooney ’60 was honored for his contributions to Americana music, a genre that encompasses artists such as Lucinda Williams and Lyle Lovett"