Fishman Artist // Jim Hurst
Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, Jim Hurst was raised in a home of "down-home values" from mother Frances Hurst and musical influences from his father Ed Hurst, Uncle Eldin Hurst, and later his older brother Al. Years earlier, Jim's family had migrated to Toledo, Ohio, but were visiting in Kentucky when Jim was born. "I guess my timing was right, I'm proud to be a Kentuckian" Jim said. Although Jim lived and went to school in Toledo, he spent most of his summers in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.Jim grew up with a guitar in his hands. "I still have my first guitar, a Gene Autry Silvertone with a cowboy ridin' on the front. I got that as a present from my uncle Lee Rose for Christmas when I was 4 years old."
On the weekends, his family played music for fun, often inviting many pickers and friends to their home.
Jim soon started listening to music on records and the radio. "I think Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Don Reno and Red Smiley, as well as some country music stars were my earliest influences." Later came the influences of Clarence White, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Tony Rice. "I listened to each guitarist with a fresh ear." Although flatpicking is a large part of bluegrass guitar, Jim first started learning to play finger-style. "Merle Travis and Chet Atkins made me take a turn in the road." But Jim considers his biggest influence to be Jerry Reed.
Jim has played many different kinds of music including bluegrass, country, rock and blues with several different bands. He has also worked with country artists: The McCarter Sisters, Holly Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, and Sara Evans as well as Grammy-nominee and IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Claire Lynch. He has recorded with Sara Evans on her 1998 RCA release "No Place That Far" and also with Claire Lynch on her 1998 Grammy nominated Rounder release "Silver And Gold".
Jim's solo release "Second Son," is a blend of many new songs from great songwriters, a few classic songs arranged and adapted by Jim and original compositions and/or arrangements. He is quickly becoming known as one of the most versatile guitarists and vocalists in the business, and this recording displays some of the reasons he is considered among the best.