Jim Messina

As a singer, writer, guitarist, producer and engineer, Jim Messina has performed with such rock bands as Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Loggins & Messina, performing everything from country to pop and rock.



Born in Texas, Jim Messina's life was divided between his mother's home in Texas and his father's home in California. His father was a semi-professional guitarist and greatly influenced his son's musical career. Messina began playing the guitar at the age of five. As time progressed, he became interested in the guitar parts on Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson records. Living in California, he eventually developed an interest in '60s surf tunes, including hits by Dick Dale and the Deltones and The Champs. Messina's career began at the age of 17 when a deejay heard him and asked him to produce two albums. The albums were unsuccessful but launched Messina into a producing and engineering career. He stayed with the deejay as his assistant, producing and recording albums for new artists. With his new knowledge of producing, he eventually became the second engineer at Hollywood's Sunset Sound. His work involved producing albums for music legends such as The Doors, Lee Michaels, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass -- and, in the mid-'60s, Buffalo Springfield.

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