"Jim Gill writes with more depth than your average poet and
has a quiet intensity much like Greg Brown and John Gorka."
–Jeff Niesel, Cleveland Free Times Music Review

In 2005 Jim Gill shared the stage with John Gorka at The Village Folk Festival, then followed it up with a performance at Rootstock in legendary Cleveland venue, Cain Park. 2006 promised to be a great year for this Cleveland-based musician. This proved to be true as Jim finished first runner-up in the 2006 Pittsburgh Singer/Songwriter Competition presented by Three Rivers Productions. "Absolute killer voice!" said event producer Nancy Lackner of Jim Gill. Nancy now represents Jim in the Pittsburgh area as he actively extends his performance radius. 2006 saw him play over 80 Northern Ohio dates while spreading his wings and touring thru Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Rochester, Boston, and Vermont. Jim was the headliner at The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, Ohio for their "First Fridays" event in 2005. They were so taken with his performance that they invited him back to headline the 2006 inaugural concert, and again for a show in December of 2007! Perhaps most notably, Jim Gill was a finalist in the New Song Competition of the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival. As a result, Walk In My Shoes, has enjoyed considerable airplay on Christin Lavin's XM 16 Satellite Radio program, The Village.

"Jim Gill took the stage and lovingly led our audience through the
highs and lows of life. His guitar work, sensitive and clever lyrics,
and warm stage presence embraced the crowd. We truly felt like we
were part of an experience...a relaxed, colorful, beautiful journey,
rather than mere patrons at a concert."
–Michael Strong, Executive Director, The Ritz Theatre

2007 saw the release of his fourth album, Jim Gill Live Volume One, recorded over three Ohio nights in 2006. The tracks were culled from concerts at The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, the John Patrick Theater at Baldwin Wallace College and an intimate night in October at Coffee Amici in Findlay. Area audiences are rapidly finding this compelling storyteller a must see!

"Jim Gill brings a bright new voice to the Ohio music scene.

This gifted singer-songwriter grabs your ear and doesn't let go,
whether he's delivering hard-hitting tunes about the world around us or
heartfelt personal ballads. He's a captivating performer, too
--so don't miss a chance to catch Jim Gill in concert!"
–John Soeder, Cleveland Plain Dealer Music Critic

His 2007 appearances included concerts with Peter Mulvey at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland as well as opening for Mary Gauthier as part of the Six String Concerts. This notable folk music series is staged in the Columbus Performing Arts Center and plays host to the top folk artists in the country.

"People really enjoyed your songs

and your beautiful, warm voice. Great show!"

–Kim Rice Wilson, President, Six String Concerts

A lover of music his entire life and a guitar player since childhood, songwriting seemed the next logical step in Jim's musical evolution. He took to tunesmithing like kids take to PB&J. His songs evoke the same emotinal scenery as Ellis Paul, Richard Shindell, Jeffrey Foucault, Greg Brown and John Gorka. "Sparse, introspective and compelling", writes the Medina Gazette. The songs are conveyed in his signature, lush, baritone voice that producer Jim Ballard of Skylyne Studios describes as, "Jim Croce with warmth and range!" Audience members routinely comment on his memorable voice and the depth, and breadth, of his lyrical subject matter. He covers everything from coal mining to motorcycles, coffee to politics, from the raucous to the sublime.

His live shows are punctuated with outlandish stories culled from his life as the only son in an Irish Catholic family of 10. Yes, 10!! His banter with audience members is a trademark delight. Venue owner Kelly Steele observed, "His outrageous anecdotes and lightning-fast wit engender in the audience a sense of being in their own living room at a great house party!"

In his ever evolving stage show Jim has added a new wrinkle, a "looping" device, to his concert performances which allows him to make layered vocal tracks where he actually harmonizes with his own voice. These on-the-fly aural effects are truly arresting. You've got to hear it to believe it!

"Jim Gill is a singer/songwriter/guitar player/storyteller extraordinaire! His stories about growing up with seven sisters in an Irish Catholic family are hilarious. His songs, based on life experiences, are sensitive, funny, and musically engaging. Jim plays six and twelve-string guitars as well as the harmonica. Occasionally he uses a looping device so that he can sing both lead and harmony parts. His songs are pure originals, and all of them are outstanding. Jim has a rare talent for engaging the audience, and a house concert is the ideal venue for this. The audience wants him back and we are going to do just that!"

–Tom Fleming, Huntington Wood House Concerts, 2006

Jim was invited to contribute a track to the 2007 John Bassette tribute compilation CD which also features covers by Tom Paxton, Michael Stanley, Alex Bevan, Marti Jones & Don Dixon among others. The disc is now available and will help launch Jim's voice to a wider national audience. A benefit concert featuring most of the CD's contributors was held at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom in April of 2007 and was a roaring success!

In 2006 Jim was honored with an invitation to write and perform three new songs for the Baldwin Wallace College Theater production of The Laramie Project. The subsequent 3 song EP, Music for The Laramie Project, is now available thru this website and became the third indie release in the Jim Gill catalogue after Sky and So Fine. This is now followed up by his fourth release, Jim Gill Live Volume One. There's more ahead for this prolific songwriter! Jim Gill Live Volume Two is currently only available at shows but you will soon be able to purchase the CD through this website so hang on ...or better yet, come out to a concert. You'll be glad you did!

Those of you that have made it this far (more power to ya, baby!) might be interested in viewing Jim's artwork, illustration and writing at Gillustration.com. Be ready to chuckle.

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