LOCAL PERFORMERS DRAWING CAPACITY CROWDS

Big Jim Adam has been entertaining audiences since he started playing blues clubs in southeast Kansas at the advanced age of 13, after being influenced on both his vocal and guitar style by the likes of Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Son House, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett.

Jim took a four year break from music while he served in the United States Marine Corps, but says "he still had the Blues." After his military service, Jim and his family relocated to Southern California. There he picked up his guitar again and made his living as a musician, performing the blues throughout L.A. and Orange County. He also was in demand as a studio vocalist. While in California, Jim had a couple of his songs recorded by Edgar Winter for the 1991 cult film “Netherland” and performed one of his original songs in the critically acclaimed film “Waterdance” staring Wesley Snipes, Helen Hunt and Eric Stoltz.

Jim eventually moved with his family to Colorado Springs where he continued to perform and also owned two music clubs that hosted such notables as John Hammond Jr., Bob Margolin, Otis Taylor, and Eden Brent along with outstanding local and regional acts. Big Jim Adam became a prominent figure on the regional blues scene whether performing as a solo, with his piano playing partner, John Stilwagen or fronting The Jim Adam Blues Band..

In 2008, Big Jim released a solo album entitled “Rock Island Line” which hit number #17 its first month on the Living Blues Chart and remained on the Roots Music Chart for an amazing 21 weeks. Not bad for an artist's first release! Later that same year The Jim Adam Blues Band “Live at Jimbo's Take 2” was released to quench the appetite of their legion of supportive fans.

While working as an audio/video engineer in California and in Colorado, Jim picked up skills that would enable him to present his band in a unique way. Using archival public domain film footage of the early years of the blues, Jim put together a presentation that both entertains and educates the public on the American music known as “The Blues”. His presentation of “The Real Blues Tour” follows the birth of the blues in Mississippi as it spreads to Kansas City, Memphis and Chicago. While the Jim Adam Blues Band performs songs to a backdrop of footage of the era, the narration between tunes gives the audience a clear understanding of the growth and transformation of this musical art form.

Continuing to record and perform, 2010 found Jim in the studio once again, but this time accompanied by John Stilwagen on keyboards. The result was “Back In My Home Town”, a CD that rose to #27 nationally on the Roots Music Report and #2 in Colorado. In support of the current CD, Big Jim and John have been making the rounds of summer music festivals in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming playing to enthusiastic audiences each time they perform.

Recently Jim can be heard in the 2010 PBS documentary “For Love of Liberty”. The documentary is hosted by Halle Berry and features dramatic readings by John Amos, Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Donald Southerland and Robert Duvall, among many others. The film chronicles the story of America's black patriots from the Revolutionary War through the current war in the Middle East.

What's next for Big Jim Adam? You can rest assured Big Jim Adam will be performing on a regular basis while preparing material for his next CD. It's been a long time coming but the musical world is recognizing this amazing talent. The future holds great things for Big Jim Adam, without a doubt!

Big Jim Adam and John Stilwagen will be appearing at Cucuru Gallery Cafe, 2332 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, on Friday, July 30^th, from 7 to 10pm. There is no cover charge but there is a minimum purchase of $10 in food or drink. Reservations are suggested by calling (719) 520-9900.

The duo will also be appearing Saturday night, July 31^st, at Coyote's Coffee Den, HWY 115 & 6^th Street, Penrose, CO. Show time is 6:30pm. There is no cover charge. (719) 372-3012.