Bringing joy to life with music

Guitarist and songwriter Jim Casey got an early start in music, playing with the rock group the Smoke Ring of Norfolk, NE, in the 1960s. He later wrote songs that were recorded by Waylon Jennings, the Oak Ridge Boys, Tompall Glaser, Albert Collins, and Bobby Bare, some of which were written with the legendary Shel Silverstein. Casey wrote the award-winning soundtrack for the 1991 movie Sealed With a Kiss and continued to write, record, and produce music in Nashville, TN.  

Jim Casey is a nationally known entertainer and songwriter born in Norfolk, Nebraska, hometown of Johnny Carson. He has been a professional songwriter since he was a teenager, signing with Gold Dust Music, based in Memphis, Tennessee, and a member of the Nebraska rock band The Smoke Ring. A move to Nashville, Tennessee preceded writing deals with Jack Music, Inc., as well as Welk Music and Universal Music. His songs have been recorded by Country Artists Charlie Pride, Bobby Bare, Sammi Smith, Waylon Jennings, and The Oak Ridge Boys. Pop and folk artist Ritchie Havens recorded two of Casey's songs for the Miami produced movie Sealed With a Kiss. He also wrote "Fade Away" for legendary blues artist Albert Collins, as well as over fifty other songs recorded by various artists. 

Among Casey's own recordings is the classic CD, Blue Oasis, which garnered national airplay for him after it's re-release in 2010. A new, sixteen song CD entitled Daylight Straight Ahead was released in June 2013.  Jim Casey is an eclectic mix of the different style of music he was exposed to, growing up in Nebraska. He plays and writes Country from the heart, and he knows how to Rock 'n' Roll! "We had a huge ballroom in our hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska when I was growing up, and we heard everything from Rock 'n' Roll to Big Band and Hillbilly" recalls Casey. "All the great performers came to the Midwest to play, and on Friday night it might have been Buddy Knox or Conway Twitty, Saturday night the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, and then on Sunday, we'd go back out to the 'grown-up' dance and hear Big Band, Jazz, or Polka." Casey remembers learning to play guitar, standing in front of the stage. "As soon as the band would come off, I was right back at the stage door, asking the guitar player questions and getting tips." 

Casey got his first shot at playing live with a band at the age of fourteen, filling in on lead guitar for the older guys who were playing Country music at one of the roadhouses outside of town. Because of his young age, Casey's Mom would drop him off at 7:00 and come back at midnight to pick him back up. "I thought I was good, while the truth was; I was lucky to even get on stage... I kept working." Finally, Casey's favorite band, The Classics, lost their guitarist and in a pinch, they hired him to play with their rock band. "It was a different world playing B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Freddy King, Buddy Holly, Jimmy Reed, and lots of stuff I'd never heard before." Casey fell in love with Rock and Country Blues.  

Jim Casey's experience led him to a spot in another local group, Little Joe and the Ramrods. The band changed their name to the Smoke Ring and found success on the Billboard Charts with the Buddah Records label, and with national television appearances on shows like ABC's American Bandstand with Dick Clark. "We got a chance to record at the Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis, Tennessee" recalls Casey. It was a dream come true for Casey, with a major label deal, and an opportunity to work with Allen Reynolds, Dickey Lee, Knox Phillips, and occasionally Sam Phillips himself. "Being exposed to the Sun Records mentality changed my way of thinking forever" remembers Casey. "I started understanding what originality meant, and how an artist interacts with his audience."  

Jim Casey's guitar playing and songwriting talent led him to a contract with Gold Dust Music and a move to Nashville, Tennesee. There, he worked for the legendary Jack Clement, and was exposed in the studio to Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. He also wrote music with songwriting pals Bob McDill, Dickey Lee, Vince Matthews, and Shel Silverstein. "My dream was to come to Nashville to become a record producer, but somewhere in the course of performing and just hanging out, I got turned on to a lot of great writers and started co-writing more and more." recalls Casey. He was finally getting cuts on other artist's recordings, and he discovered he had a talent for songwriting that has panned out for him over the course of his career.  

Jim Casey had a stage presence that was undeniable. He related to his audience and gets them involved. He fires up a crowd, and his band kicks serious butt! With his diverse background in all types of music and his ability to relate to the audience, it is easy to see why this great musician was timeless. A talented writer and performer, Jim Casey continued to do what he loved to do, and what he did best... entertain! And most of all his goal was to bring em Joy!