Jim McGorman

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Jim McGorman, a native of Philadelphia, is a guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist. He is best known for his work with the House Band on the CBS television shows Rockstar: INXS and Rockstar: Supernova. He has been musical director for Michelle Branch and toured with Cher. When McGorman toured with Cher on her Farewell Tour, he played guitars and keyboards and sang duets. He has also played with the New Radicals, Poison (band), Marc Broussard and most recently Paul Stanley from the band KISS together with his mates in the House Band. He has written songs for TV shows such as "One Tree Hill" and "Smallville." He has also performed on "The Tonight Show," BBC's "Top of the Pops" and MTV's "TRL."[1] Jim performed with Michelle Branch on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (episode: Tabula Rasa) and with Dilana (a runner-up from the Rock Star: Supernova show) on Ellen DeGeneres.

Regarding the Rockstar TV show house band, he says that he feels his role is a multifaceted one: guitar, keys and singing. "Plus, being a writer/artist myself, I feel that I understand how to work with the singers. From a guitar perspective, I try to capture the original tones of the records we play, from guitars to tunings and effects. Rafa has a unique tone that he really likes, so the more I get the original tones right, the more I think the audience will relate to the performance." [2]

Contents

[edit] Jamestown

In 2006, McGorman's band Jamestown released its first album, The World Is Falling Down. You can listen to it online at Jim McGorman Official Web site under the music/lyrics tab. You can also purchase it from the Web site.

The World Is Falling Down available at Jim McGorman Official Web site
Enlarge
The World Is Falling Down available at Jim McGorman Official Web site

Here are the tracks:

    1. You're Not Alone
    2. All I Know
    3. California
    4. The World Is Falling Down
    5. Through to You
    6. Do You Remember
    7. Rebound
    8. Let's Not Fall In Love
    9. Change
    10. Here Is Now
    11. You and I


Jim, on Jamestown and recording the CD ..."Well, Jamestown is my baby. I’ve been working on music my entire life, and this is my first full-length record. I wrote – or co-wrote – all the songs, produced the record, and obviously played guitar, keys and sang. I’ve been working with a lot of the same musicians over the years in L.A.; the drummer (Dave Allen), bass player (Jon Button), and I have been working on original stuff for almost seven years. The three of us played for Michelle Branch when I was her Musical Director from 2001 to 2002. Emerson Swinford (guitar) and I have been writing and playing together for longer than that, and David Levita (guitar) has been a great contribution to the recording process. Though we are all pro players and are generally really busy working on other projects (to pay the bills), this is something we have done for ourselves. I am incredibly proud of the record and how we all worked together to make it happen.We’ll see where it goes from here."[3]

[edit] Musical Influences

"Everyone in my family is musical or some sort of performer. My mother was a dancer, and my dad plays piano and sings. My mom, though, really got me going with music. Showed me the beauty of chord changes. She was more of a "word writer." I got my love of lyrics from her. I guess you could say I'm very fortunate to have talented and supportive parents. - Started playing piano at six, drums at eight, guitar at 12, and I've been singing since I was born."[4]

McGorman cites a number of popular music influences, including soul music of Gamble and Huff, and the rock of Coldplay and U2.

[edit] Education

Graduated Cherry Hill High School East, 1992; graduated Berklee College of Music in 1995 with a degree in audio engineering and music production.[5]

[edit] Discography

Year Album Artist Credit
1997 To Make Me Who I Am Aaron Neville Guitar
2001 Transmatic Transmatic Strings
2002 Leap of Faith David Charvet Vocals (bckgr)
2003 Chapter 2 Jessica Jacobs Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals (bckgr), Producer
2004 Borrowed Heaven The Corrs Piano, Musician
2004 Carencro Marc Broussard Organ, Piano, Vocals (bckgr), Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
2005 Rock Star: A Night at the Mayan Various Artists Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
2005 Safe in Sound Jim Boggia Piano, Tack Piano
2005 Unfabulous and More Emma Roberts Keyboards, Group Member
2005 Something To Fall Back On Sam Jaffe Guitars, Keyboards
2006 Reach Warren Barfield Piano, Guitar (Electric), Organ (Hammond), Vocals (bckgr), Clavinet, Wurlitzer, Tack Piano
2006 The World is Falling Down Jamestown Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Producer

Main source for discography: [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Trent Salter (October, 2005). Jim McGorman of Rock Star: INXS. musicianshotline.com.
  2. ^ Trent Salter (October, 2005). Jim McGorman of Rock Star: INXS. musicianshotline.com.
  3. ^ Artist Profile - Jim McGorman. musicianshotline.com (October, 2006).
  4. ^ Trent Salter (October, 2005). Jim McGorman of Rock Star: INXS. musicianshotline.com.
  5. ^ Chuck Darrow (July 1, 2006). Music Man. courierpostonline.com.
  6. ^ allmusic web site - Jim McGorman.

[edit] External links