Catching Up with Jim Hawley

Jan. 8, 2016

Music has always been a part of Jim Hawley’s life. When he was a kid, he’d listen to his grandmother play piano. In grade school, he’d find local bands practicing in their garages, and would sit and listen. By high school, he’d become friends with a guy who played guitar, and that friend started teaching Hawley how to play.

After high school, Hawley joined the Navy, which he said almost put a damper on his music career, but stints in San Francisco, Florida and Nashville — plus a little encouragement from the likes of Don Ho and Wynonna Judd — convinced him to keep going after his military service was over.

Today, he’s living in northern Michigan and has been “singing like crazy,” as

he put it, grateful that he didn’t give up on his dream.

CLASSIC COVERS

Influenced by a long list of classic singers — James Taylor, Elton John, Michael Peter Smith, Dan Fogelberg — Hawley writes his own songs, but he also translates other people’s music into his own style.

“I do a lot of ‘70s and ‘80s music, but I put my own spin on it,” he explained. “A lot of people have been asking me about making a covers album, so I’m working on that now to try and capture what I do when I perform live.”

His plan is to record at the home studio of Interlochen engineer and NMC audio technology instructor Jack Conners. The tracklisting is in flux at the moment, but Hawley has more than a few ideas.

“Probably ‘The Dutchman’ by Smith, ‘Your Song’ by Elton John, ‘The Water is Wide,’ which is an old Scottish folk song, and something by James Taylor,” he said. “I change up the tonality and rhythms and I have my own arrangements, so they’re familiar, but not exactly the same.”

His 22-year-old son James Hawley plays lead

LIVE LABORS

Live is where Hawley really gets the chance to showcase his vocals and where he’s gained his popularity here in northern Michigan.

“Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I performed somewhere almost every night of the week,” Four he spacious said in reference studios to at this our past summer’s slate of live shows.

Some of his favorite places to perform include North Peak Brewing Company, Apache Trout Grill, Crystal Mountain Resort, The Blue Tractor and the Homestead Resort.

“Mike Connors at Apache Trout Grill is great; that was one of the first places I played when I moved Up North,” Hawley said. “He and Mike Lloyd at North Peak were both so welcoming.”

Hawley gigs at Bud’s in Interlochen every Thursday, too — his house gig for more than seven years.

“That’s a pretty long time,” Hawley said, “but I like to think I’ve been there so long because my listeners are familiar with what I do, and I think I’m pretty good at what I do.”

Hawley is planning to expand his repertoire with a couple of major projects, one that’s been going on for awhile and another that’s just getting started.

BIG PROJECTS

Along with a couple of fellow musicians, he helps pay homage to a trio of well-known ‘60s folk music legends in the tribute band Peter Paul and Mary Remembered.

“I’m Peter, Lawrence ‘Doc’ Probes is Paul and Donna Lea Wilson is Mary,” Hawley explained. “We play their music and also tell their story. I’ll be performing with that group at a benefit for Habitat for Humanity on Feb. 11.”

On his own, he’s working with his son and putting together a backing band for what will be a 90-minute Dan Fogelberg tribute show that he’s calling the Phoenix Rising Tour.

“He’s been one of my favorite musicians my whole life and has inspired my work tremendously,” Hawley said. “The first time I heard him, I was going through many of the same things as he was, so his songs struck me personally.”

He’s already got a pending setlist for that tour and is planning to include Fogelberg hits like “There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler,” “Phoenix” and “Leader of the Band.” Most of all, he just wants to keep singing on guitar and bass, and may also show up on the stages big and small.

“God blessed me with a voice, so I always show up with my A game no matter what the show,” he said. “I try to perform for the people because, without them, you’re just sitting home practicing.”

For more information on Jim Hawley’s music and his live show schedule, find him on Facebook at facebook.com/jim.hawley.jr or visit jimhawleymusic.com.