Jim Conway

World recognised harmonica player

Jim Conway is acknowledged as a highly accomplished harmonica player whose distinctive style is well known to blues, jazz and country music enthusiasts.

His extensive career includes national tours with American bluesman Brownie McGhee, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Circus Oz and The Backsliders.

Jim was a member of the Conway Brothers Hiccups Orchestra from 1984 - 1988 and toured the U.K. in1986, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival, the Capitol Music Festival and the Newcastle Festival.

In 1988, the Conway Brothers appeared at the Houston International Festival, World Expo 88 and the Perth festival.

Jim joined the Backsliders in 1989, touring nationally at festivals which include the Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Festivals, Womad, the East Coast Blues Festival, the Port Fairy Folk Festival, and the Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival .

He has twice been a judge at the Hohner Australian Harmonica Championships at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Apart from four successful recordings, including two gold records with Captain Matchbox, and an album with The Conway Brothers, Jim co-produced two of the Backsliders albums; Sitting On a Million and Hellhound.

Jim is a sought after session musician and has recorded with numerous artists including Shane Howard (Goanna Band), Colin Hay (Men At Work), Bob Brozman, Slim Dusty, Norma Murphy, Jan Preston, Tim Gaze, Dutch Tilders, Anne Kirkpatrick and Pat Drummond.

Jim has also composed, produced and recorded music for a broad range of film and radio projects, including the Kennedy Miller telemovie "The Riddle of the Stinson" and the comedy feature "The Honourable Wally Norman ".

At the Sydney Paralympics Opening Ceremony Jim performed a piece of music specially written to feature his harmonica playing.

Jim has just performed with the Backsliders in the Melbourne Music and Blues Festival in February 2003.

A documentary film celebrating Jim's contribution to Australian music was screened on S.B.S. Television in July 2000. The film won a silver medal for Best Independently Produced Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival. See the Film Buff review at http://www.filmbuff.com.au/jim.html

Visit the Backsliders webpage at http://www.backsliders.com.au/

Jim's own webpage is http://www.jimconway.sydney.net/

Email Jim at jimconway@optusnet.com.au

Phone or fax Jim on (02) 95559265