Country Jim Palmer

This is a story about an album of songs . At it's center is one remarkable man named Jim Palmer . Jim started his life in northeastern Connecticut . Living in the country . In the midst of this country living were the tunes that came out of Nashville on the airways from stations like WSM and WWVA radio during the fifties and sixties Jim was automatically seduced by the sounds of this music in his everyday life . By the age of fifteen Jim was writing his own music and songs about life as he saw it going on around him .
          Jim joined the Army in June of 1967. Jim was a common sight at the many service clubs at the bases he was stationed . Signing out guitars and playing music in the back rooms. Jim met other musicians there and learned from these folks too. With the help and encouragement from his friends Jim joined the Third Army entertainment Contest in May 1968 which he won fifth place. Jim recieved a handsome plague for his efforts. In August of 1968 , Jim was sent to Viet Nam . While there he bought a vietnamese guitar and entertained the guys who worked in the field.Jim declined a job working for the USO cause he wanted to entertain the guys who could not see or get to the USO shows. During this time Jim wrote the now classic song "Christmas In Viet Nam " Jim's friends taped it on a three inch reel of tape and had it played on the RVN radio station there.
          Returning home , Jim continued to play his songs around this great country . From Connecticut to Texas , New Mexico , Missouri , Maine , New Hampshire ,Minnesota anywhere Jim could find a spot where people would listen to him playing his music . Jim's voice was tempered by the bars and nightclubs and stages of the many music halls across this great land. Through it all Jim would smile that now familar smile of his . He would relish in the little things about playing for the public . A certain look someone had given him , The way a certain girl would dance while he played , the way a vet would cry when he sang "Christmas In Viet Nam" all of these and many more were Jim's payment for the long hours of playing and working and writing songs one after the other . How many songs ? Thousands of song though only 785 songs are copyrighted through the Library Of Congress. Songs that touched the souls of everyone around him , because his words reflected the life and the way of life of all of those around him . In the fall of 1998 .
          Jim was hospitalized for meserentric eshemia , in short , the blood supply to his intestines were clotted off ,causing nine major surgeries andtwo and a half years of recovery in his home state of Maine. With Jim's wife , Donna , at his side , as she had been for the 34 years they began recording some of these great tunes .Jim was writing new songs and reviving some of the old ones too . One of the CD's were sent to friends in Australia where local legend drummer Chris "Fingers" Gifford heard the songs while working on a construction job .It was Chris' determination and love for the easy flow and "syrup rich" voice of Jim Palmer,that echoed memories of the past.
          When music was meaningful and honest . Chris was heard saying ,"That man is made of old rusty nails." The title of one of the songs on the cd. Chris organized the local musicians or "Muzos" as they are called in the area. They were equally impressed by the songs on the cd. Every musician or "muzos" on the first album "Old Rusty Nails" were all great muaicians in thier own rights. The Ironbark Band ,consisted of Paul Johnston who played bass guitar and accordion . Dave Pitt , who played bass guitar and drums. Chris Gifford who palyed the drums and Craig Thompson who played Hanrmonica . And then there were the studio musicans Peter Foy on lead guitar and Russell Fletcher playing the accoustic slide guitar and Phill Phree playing the guitar and the synthesizer and Phil Cullen on keyboards and piano and Sam McMahon on the didgeridoo and didgeribone. Jim and Donna traveled to Australia recently and met many great and wonderful people . The music Of "Old Rusty Nails" was recieved very well . There are more albums planned for the future and as Jim himself would say , " There are turns and there are bends , but the road never ends." God bless you all