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I was born in Lubbock, Texas longer ago than I like to think about. What little growing up I've done was in the small Central Texas town of Goldthwaite. From there I went to school at The University of North Texas in Denton, where I studied little and learned much. It was here that I was introduced to jazz and progressive rock, as well as many types of world music. I played in many duos and trios during the college years.
After school, I made the fateful decision to move to Austin, Texas and make a career of music. As luck would have it, my first home there was a duplex, the other half of which was occupied by a couple of rowdy musicians. They were the foundation of my first band, as well as my partners in many dubious schemes and bad decisions. For these reasons, they shall remain nameless.
After struggling in Austin for a few years, I hopped around Colorado and Oklahoma, searching for something I've yet to identify. Then it was back to Lubbock, where I left mainstream country and rock music behind in favor of the singer-songwriter life. After two moderately successful years in the Hub City, I decided to make another run at Austin. Shortly after arriving, I hooked up with a very cool acoustic band called Buck Forty-nine. Lots of fun and a couple of years later, I formed The Benders, a country-folk-roots-rock mishmash that included some of Texas' finest players. I am very thankful to have worked with those guys.
Cities being what they are (subject to growth), and commercial radio being what it is (a joke), I left Austin for the Hill Country a couple of years ago. I now live just outside the village of Luckenbach.
My music is a somewhat chaotic mix of Texas country and folk, with a taste of rock thrown in for fun. I guess I never outgrew the adolescent urge to turn my electric guitar up really loud.
I play all over Texas, traveling to wherever there's a gig, and I have been very fortunate to play some of the coolest venues in Texas. They include The Backyard and The Saxon Pub in Austin, Sons Of Hermann Hall in Dallas, Gruene Hall, Fitzwilly's in College Station and many less famous (but equally cool) smaller places. I have also played the Kerrville Folk Festival, Tommy Alverson's Texas Family Gathering, The KEOS Volunteer Jam and KFAN's Windows On Texas. It has been my honor to share the stage with wonderful artists such as Shake Russell and Dana Cooper, Fred Eaglesmith, Susan Gibson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Cosmic Dust Devils, Shelley King, Marcia Ball, Carey Swinney, Tim Steele, Mark Jungers and many more.
Thanks for stopping by to visit. Give me a holler anytime, and come out to see me when you can.
Also check out: www.JaySims.com for more info!
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