Jim Messina
While with Buffalo Springfield, he served as a recording engineer,
producer, and eventually as a bass player (he replaced Bruce Palmer) on
their last album. Messina and Richie Furay, another Buffalo Springfield
member, formed Poco after Buffalo Springfield broke up. Messina played
lead guitar and supplied vocals and some songwriting to the band. After
recording two albums, Messina left Poco. After Poco, Messina was with
Columbia Records, serving as an independent producer when he met Kenny
Loggins. Messina and Loggins worked together on what was to be Loggins'
first album. In the course of producing Loggins' work, Messina provided
backup vocals and guitar work. Eventually, the two decided to put out
the album as "Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin' In". Loggins and
Messina went on to make a number of popular albums. In 1976, the duo
split: Loggins felt he had learned all he could from his "mentor"
Messina and wanted to strike out on his own. Both went on to solo
careers. Messina made some albums that did not make much of a splash,
but Loggins' solo career took off. Messina, however, kept busy as a
painter and as a songwriting coach. He now runs the successful Jim
Messina's Songwriters' Performance Workshop. In 2005, Loggins and
Messina reconnected and decided to hit the road as a duo again. The
result was a successful nationwide tour that produced the CD and DVD
"Loggins and Messina Sittin' In Again."
“With an active music maker as a father, I grew up with music in my house and naturally picked up an instrument at an early age. At 13 years old my parents supported my passion for music and purchased my first instrument from a shop in downtown LA. I have been hooked ever since playing acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, and the mandolin. My inspiration for being a musician is from the great music makers that have come and gone, but their music continues to live on. Beginning with Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, through Scotty Moore and James Burton, to people like Larry Carton, Earl Klugh and of course the great flamenco players who continue to inspire me to explore music. Music is a way of life. It has enriched my life in countless ways, from giving me a creative outlet to providing a better life for my kids. People of all ages and skill levels should find an instrument that they have fun playing, practice, take good care of it, and, in time, it might open up doors for them and become a best friend.”
