Jim Hurst picks away at The Glass City Opry

Listen Up Toledo  |  12/01/2010 7:00 am

Jim Hurst was born in Middleboro, Kentucky into a musical family and was raised with a guitar in his hands.  Many weekends growing up were spent picking with family and friends.  Jim was influenced early in his career by flat-pickers such as Tony Rice and George Shuffler, Doc Watson and Clarence White and others.

He also was influenced by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, and especially Jerry Reed, calling his discovery of their finger-style playing "a turn in the road" for him.  He continues to rely on these varied influences to enhance his own musical compositions and performances.  His diverse tastes led him to play in several bands, playing country, bluegrass, blues, jazz and other styles.  His career was already growing when Holly Dunn came calling in 1990. He joined Holly's Rio Band as guitarist/mandolinist and harmony vocalist, touring the US and internationally, playing live TV, and stunning audiences with his musicianship. Then, Hurst  joined Trisha Yearwood's band in 1992 adding electric guitar, something he spent many years doing, to his job description and toured more extensively including many high-profile radio and television appearances. In the mid 1990's Jim also performed with Sara Evans, Travis Tritt, and the McCarter Sisters. He recorded with Sara Evans on her 1998 RCA release "No Place That Far", on harmony vocals and acoustic guitar.

In search of more bluegrass playing, Hurst joined Grammy nominated and IBMA Vocalist of the Year - Claire Lynch in 1995 and toured with Claire and The Front Porch String Band until the end of 1999.  While in this ensemble, he met Missy Raines, the award-winning bassist.  It was then that Jim and Missy realized the similarities in their playing styles and musical desires.  Jim and Missy began the duet "Jim Hurst & Missy Raines" in 1998 while touring with Claire Lynch.  They broke off from Claire Lynch's band in 2000 to focus more sincerely on the duet, a ground-breaking arrangement in bluegrass music circles.

Together Jim & Missy's music delved into several different genres, while staying close to their bluegrass roots. Their two Pinecastle Records releases "Two" and "Synergy" received critical acclaim, culminating with Jim and Missy receiving the Guitar Player and Bass Player of year awards as well as nominations for Emerging Artists of the Year at the 2001 and 2002 IBMA Awards Ceremonies.  Jim and Missy rejoined Claire in the newly formed "Claire Lynch Band" in 2004, but continued playing as a duet for until November 2006.

Jim has since left the Claire Lynch Band, his last performance in March 2010.  He is now concentrating solely on his own musical efforts and is performing in concert and conducting workshops and clinics, and producing recordings for other artists, as well as continuing to produce his own recordings.  His touring dates have Jim working in a varied selection of venue, including festivals, performance halls, museums, music stores, coffeehouses, house concerts, and music camps around the country and parts of the world. 

No doubt, Jim Hurst's performance at the beautiful and historic Maumee Indoor Theatre (601 Conant) for the Glass City Opry on Saturday, December 4 will be a memorable musical delight. Doors at 6 p.m. $15, children 15 and under free. Tickets and info available via www.glasscityopry.com.