|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLAUDERDALE, Jim(b 11 April '57, Statesville NC) Quirky country singer-songwriter who has provided hits for mainstream country acts and recorded his own distinctive left- field albums. Raised in musical family; father a Presbyterian minister, mother a music teacher and choir director; played drums in school band. He developed an interest in country and bluegrass, learning banjo and guitar, through college years active as solo performer, then to NYC playing country/folk circuit with his own band. Appeared in off-Broadway show Cotton Patch Gospel followed by various touring shows and was in LA with Pump Boys And Dinettes when he met Pete Anderson (lead guitarist, producer for Dwight Yoakam); Anderson included him on the second volume of A Town South Of Bakersfield '88, a compilation of West Coast country-rock acts. Short-lived contract with Epic resulted in country hit with 'Stay Out Of My Arms' '88; worked as session singer in Nashville and had songs cut by such diverse acts as Vince Gill, Shelby Lynne, Kelly Willis and George Strait; signed new contract with Reprise and teamed up with John Leventhal and Rodney Crowell to co-produce Planet Of Love '91, combining healthy roots reverence with some flat-out blues, honky-tonk and even a yodel. Other albums incl. Pretty Close To The Truth and Every Second Counts '94--5 on Atlantic, Persimmons '96 on Upstart. |