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An undisputed expert in the fine art of making hit music, Jim Messina’s legacy of musical genius spans five decades, three super groups, a vibrant solo career and scores of producing and engineering credits. While acting as producer/audio engineer for Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Buffalo Springfield, Messina ultimately joined the band as its bass player. When “the Springfield” disbanded in 1968, Jim and fellow bandmate Richie Furay formed Poco. With Jim on lead guitar, Poco defined a new musical genre: Country Rock. After three successful albums, Jim was ready for a change and left to return to his passion for producing music. He signed as an independent producer with Columbia Records.
In November 1970, Columbia asked Jim to work with an unknown Kenny Loggins. While helping Kenny get ready for a record and touring, the two discovered that they worked
well together and Jim agreed to sit in on Kenny’s first album. Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In was released in November of 1971 and an accidental duo was formed. Over the next seven years, Loggins & Messina released eight hit albums, had scores of hit songs and sold over 16 million albums. They had become one of rock’s most successful recording duos ever, but it was time for the duo to go their separate ways.
After a series of celebrated solo acoustic tours, Jim formed a band made of acclaimed musicians who have played with him at various points in his career. His latest release, In the Groove, includes selected hits from all three of Jim’s previous bands, as well as several of his solo works.
Touring the country and playing soldout shows, Jim says that he’s enjoying discovering who he is, where he’s been and, most significantly, where he’s going.
In 1975 Pablo Cruise released its first A&M album simply entitled Pablo Cruise. The album cover was shot in the tropical gardens of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and featured a huge gorilla standing front and center. The band, David Jenkins (guitars, vocals), Cory Lerios (keyboards, vocals), Bud Cockerel (bass, vocals) and Steve Price (drums, percussion) were nowhere in sight. There was a bit of a mystique surrounding Pablo Cruise and when asked what Pablo Cruise meant, the answer went something like this: “Pablo”, represents an honest, real, down-toearth individual, and “Cruise” depicts his fun loving, easy going attitude towards life. In essence that’s what Pablo Cruise music is all about. To hear Pablo Cruise on record is one thing, but to experience the band live is an exhilarating event!
From 1975 to 1985 the band toured the U.S., Canada and Japan extensively, welcoming fans to “Climb Aboard The Good Ship Pablo Cruise.” Reaching the top 10 with mega hits like “Whatcha Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye?” and “Love Will Find A Way,” the band went on to sell several
million albums and singles collectively and established themselves as respected writers and performers within the industry. They appeared on numerous TV shows, including Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Dinah Shore Hour. By 1985, after completing several national tours and releasing seven studio albums in all, the band decided to take a hiatus…one that lasted nearly 20 years.
In 2005, a reunited Pablo Cruise picked up where they left off and today the band performs all over the U.S. and Canada and they’re enjoying it more than ever. “One of the great things about playing shows after all these years is that the core band, David, Steve and myself are still here and lovin’ it,” says Cory. Today Pablo Cruise is bringing more energy and excitement to the stage than ever before and with the addition of Larry Antonino and Robbie Wyckoff, the band has never sounded better. If you get an opportunity to see Pablo Cruise live, don’t pass it up…“IT’S GOOD TO BE LIVE.”
www.pablocruise.com