Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers

About Me

Hi, I'm a singer songwriter from Merseyside, UK, now writing and performing my own songs again after a very long lay off.
Had a brief taste of success in the 80s with a band I'd formed at school (The Reverb Brothers) who went on to tour UK and Europe with people like Joe Jackson and OMD, signed to RCA Records and EMI Music Publishing but split after 3 singles failed to set the charts on fire.
Turned my back on the music industryand spent the next 15 years or so in 'proper jobs' and raising a family. Despite all the good things this brought me I always felt there was something missing from my life. Discovered it again big time when I went on a week long songwriting retreat to the remote Irish island of Inisheer in September 2004 - a real creative awakening for me. Since then have got seriously back into writing again, along with recording my first solo CD (only 20 years in the making!) and performing as both a solo artist and with my new band The Firewalkers.
The Firewalkers name says it all, it's a leap of faith thing for me, something a bit scary but exciting at the same time. My mission is to write great songs that will connect even with non country fans and I'll just be happy if a few more people get to hear them this time - Drop me a line some time or visit me at www.jimmyrae.co.uk .
Love and peace JR x

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/25/2005
Band Website: jimmyrae.co.uk
Band Members: Jimmy Rae and the Firewalkers are:Jimmy Rae - vocals, guitar, harmonica; Catherine Howard - backing vocals, percussion; Adrian Hall - keyboards, backing vocals; Mike Penny - bass, Iain Morton - drums, percussion, backing vocals (why is the drummer always last? we'd be pretty crap without this guy!)
Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Beatles, Elton John, Steve Earle, Eagles, Neil Young, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Proclaimers, Saw Doctors, Lone Justice, Alabama 3, Joe Ely, Michelle Shocked, Nanci Griffith, folk, country & blues
Sounds Like: You tell me!
Record Label: n/a
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Jimmy Rae, Phil Chisnall and Joe Topping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnxZ_F0CjM Me and my occasional musical compadres Phil Chisnall and Joe Topping performing Joe's song "High Peak Trail" live at The Station, Birkenhead, Engla...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:38:00 PST

Christene LeDoux, Jimmy Rae, Phil Chisnall & Joe Topping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuX8jbdGyE Filmed at our Songwriters by Candlelight concert at The Station, Birkenhead, England on 13 June 2008. Four old hobos singing for their supper. Plea...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:18:00 PST

Songwriters by Candlelight -13 June 2008

I'm pleased to confirm that I will be teaming up again with local singer songwriters Phil Chisnall and Joe Topping for an intimate evening of songs and stories on Friday June 13th at The Sta...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:11:00 PST

Sad day

I got a phone call just before 8 am today to tell me the very sad news that Robin Adams, our bass player died this morning. Rob had been ill in hospital for several weeks, bravely battling a seemingly...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PST

Firewalkers for Free at The Farmers, this FRIDAY!

Jimmy Rae and the Firewalkers can be found doing their exclusive thing this Friday 29 Feb at The Farmers Arms, Frankby, Wirral. It's our first local gig for over 6 months so come down and see how muc...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:15:00 PST

Liverpool remembers Buddy Holly

Fifty years to the day after Buddy Holly and the Crickets played Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, some 30 or more Merseyside bands, musicians, songwriters, actors and celebrities are gathering to commem...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:10:00 PST

New song and live dates for 08

Hi, after six months of virtual hibernation, I've uploaded one of the tracks from my soon-to-be-completed-long-awaited-only-taken-twenty-years-to -record CD 'Deliverance' on my site plus some solo and ...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:49:00 PST

Back at The Cavern...after 23 years!

Well, I must have been good last time for them to book me back so quick! Back in June 1984, as one half of The Reverb Brothers, I had the honour of playing at the official re-opening on Liverpool's le...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:11:00 PST

Ferry strange goings on...

Had a very funny (although deeply stressful at the time!) dream last night. It's the start of a much anticipated family holiday and I'm meant to be disembarking from our ferry as it arrives ...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 04:48:00 PST

I've made the top five!

Uploaded a track yesterday in the Country category of a website called Noisehead (www.noisehead.com). Its a site where musos and bands can upload their tracks for others to listen to and (gulp!) rate!...
Posted by Jimmy Rae & the Firewalkers on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:18:00 PST