Biography

Jim onstage wearing his colorful patched jeans holding acoustic guitar, looking downward, strumming, at microphone.
“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

“Absolute killer voice!” — Nancy Lackner, Three Rivers Productions

People really enjoyed your songs and your beautiful, warm voice. Great show!” — Kim Rice Wilson, President, Six String Concerts
Jim is rapidly approaching his 3500th show mark. That’s a lot of music! Over the course of a music career that began in 2001, Jim Gill has shared stages with notable artists as varied as John Gorka, Tommy James and The Shondells at The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, Ohio and Mary Gauthier as part of the Six String Concerts series staged in the Columbus Performing Arts Center which plays host to the top acoustic folk and roots artists in the country. Jim has also enjoyed performances with Ohio legends Michael Stanley and Alex Bevan.
Jim onstage at microphone holding guitar and singing at Lock 3 in Akron.
Jim on rooftop stage wearing baseball cap, smiling, with guitar at microphone.
Jim was first runner-up in the 2006 Pittsburgh Singer/Songwriter Competition presented by Three Rivers Productions. He toured 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 have invited him back every season since. 2023 is 18th year on their stage! 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”, 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
Jim has three grown children and, as of 2024, two grandchildren! He lives alone in southern Medina County, Ohio. Most of his shows now are at Ohio wineries or festivals as he likes to stay close to home to be with loved ones. Along with his original tunes, Jim’s growing catalogue of over 800 cover songs makes him quite popular on weekends at the wineries! Speaking of family, Jim’s live shows are punctuated with outlandish stories culled from his life as the only son in an Irish Catholic family of 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!”
Jim in patched jeans with wide smile dancing.
Wideview from behind Jim onstage at LCCC with full auditorium.
In his live shows, Jim sings along with himself on a “looping” device, 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. He will sometimes have a musician sit in with him on percussion and harmonica. Or a full band as he did at Lock 3 in Akron!
“Jim has a rare talent for engaging the audience!” — Tom Fleming, Huntington Wood House Concerts
Discography: “So Fine”, “Sky”, “Jim Gill Live Volumes I & II, “All The Time” and “Blue”. All of Jim’s recordings are available at his live shows or you may reach out thru email to purchase a CD by mail. Click here to listen to audio clips of the music!