Artist description Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, Jim has developed an acoustic musical style rooted firmly in folk music, with lyrics that look to the future. He began writing his own songs in 1989 after a hitch in the Marine Corps, graduate school in physics, and a career in medical physics and aerospace.

Music Style Contemporary Folk, Americana

Musical Influences Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie

Similar Artists Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, John Denver.

Artist History Jim is at home whether performing on the main stage at a national festival, on a picket line or in a coffeehouse. Jim also puts much of his effort into performing benefits for a variety of organizations, from grass roots groups helping the homeless, fighting Muscular Dystrophy, helping Earthsave LA, the Tree People, Wake-Up LA and many others. Jim has opened for John Denver with the Planet Players at the Windstar Conference in Aspen Colorado. For eight consecutive years Jim has performed on the main stage and hosted songwriting workshops at the Traditional Music Festival in Avoca, Iowa. Also for the past seven years, he has traveled to Texas and played around campfires at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and has been invited to perform at the 1999 festival. Jim's songs are weaving their way into the fabric of American folk music, on radio, and at festivals and venues from Alaska to the Caribbean, Europe and Australia. Jim's newest recording, released in February 2002 is titled "Don't Let the World Get You Down." His first CD titled "The Man in the Street" was released February of 1998. Earlier recordings included a self produced cassette, and a release on Prairie records titled "Avoca by Night." Jim was a regular on "Malibu Folk," a syndicated radio show hosted by the late Brian May, and has been featured nationally on "River City Folk," a one hour music and interview program on the NPR. Fast Folk Records included Jim's song "Avoca by Night" on their Los Angeles 1993 CD.

Instruments Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Lead Guitar, occasional featured instruments such as violin, piano, cello, banjo.

Press Reviews The Music Matters Review Issue 10, 1999 Jim Savarino: The Man in the Street 1998, Jim Savarino Music There is not much between you and the songs on this album. The production is minimal, but tasteful, the guitar playing is simple. Jim Savarino sings with a slight lisp in a vocal style that falls somewhere between Bob Dylan, Donovan and John Prine. The lack of pretension in presentation makes it all the easier to enjoy the brilliant songs. There is a gentle tone set from the first song "Searching for Angels" that is not lost even in the more satirical songs. The next song is the wise "Judgement Day" in which God invites him to sit and eat popcorn and watch a home movie of his life: "Did you finish the things you wanted? Did you discover My existence? You weren't the smartest man I made But you sure did have persistence." Savarino's songs tread the tricky path between humor and subtlety, with the confidence of a master songsmith. -Michael Devlin

Location Elm Grove, WV - USA

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