Massachusetts native James Nihan began playing guitar
at age nine and writing songs at fourteen.He was first influenced by the music of
Tom Rush, John Prine, Mickey Newberry, Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor. He began
performing at age nineteen, appearing throughout New England at venues including
The Folkway, The Pressroom, The Sword In The Stone, The Me & Thee and The Grog.
After the blizzard of '78 struck, on his twenty-first birthday, he left New England
in search of warmer climes.
He entertained throughout Texas, Arizona and California from
1979-87. In 1980 his songs were commended by Arizona governor, Bruce Babbitt and
Berkeley, California poet, Gene Fowler, presented James with an award for the lyric
"The Hardest Road", saying it reminded him of old sonnets. James also wrote and
produced radio commercials for anglo and hispanic markets in Los Angeles, at the
same time performing at rodeos, folk societies and vineyard restaurants.
James moved to Nashville in 1987 to continue a career in
songwriting. He was first published by
Ed Bruce and George Strait.
In 1990 he was voted "Songwriter Of The Year" by the Tennessee Songwriters
Association. "I Can See Arkansas" was released by Anne Murray and went Top 10 in
Canada. It can also be found on albums released by David Ball and Steve Wariner
(Country), Larry Stephenson (Bluegrass) and Ninjaman (Reggae).
The late great songwriter,
Harlan Howard, who penned
thousands of songs (I Fall To Pieces, Busted, Heartaches By The Number), acted as
publisher and mentor for James from 1990-95. Other publishers include EMI Music
Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group.
He has been a guest on numerous radio and television programs.
His songs have been performed on the Grand Ole Opry, Austin City Limits, Nashville
Now, The Regis Philbin Show, CMT and more. Appearances include the Kerrville Folk
Festival and Mountain Stage. He was featured poet at the Annual Poetry Fair at the
College of San Mateo in California.
He founded and hosts the annual "New England Songwriters
Show" held at Nashville's renowned Bluebird Café. Past guest artists include Peter
McCann, Barry & Holly Tashian, Dave Mallett, Gary Burr, Cindy Bullens, David Olney,
Jon Pousette-Dart, John Scott Sherrill, Jess Leary and Robert Ellis Orrall.
He has taught songwriting to children through the non-profit
"Words & Music" program at the Country Music Hall of Fame for fifteen years, and
he now brings his songwriting workshops into schools across the country. He
has worked with patients in addiction and psychiatric treatment, where poetry and
music are used to encourage self-expression and healing.
In 1995 he released the CD "Mirror Boxes & Diamond Rings".
Performing Songwriter magazine said, "Nihan is the
lonesome preacher…with a voice thick as molasses, (he) tells the tales of the
lover, the loser and the lucky survivor."
The CD "Rays Of Light" was released in late 2003. The songs
are uplifting and from the heart, inspired by Toltec and Native American wisdom.
Jean Pumphrey, Literary Director of the Marin Poetry Center said, "In the
songs of James Nihan we enter a world of artistry. Here is a poet's voice painting
in sound and image a portrait of where love lives." Toltec teacher, don Roberto Paez,
said, "A loving tribute to the power of transformation! James Nihan has created a
refreshingly honest and moving memoir, a chronicle of awakening to the sweetness of
life."
The CD sequel All Creation was released on May 1, 2005. The
heartfelt songs are both meditative and contemplative and incorporate a variety of
instruments including sitar, gemshorn, pennywhistle and hammered dulcimer. The West
Virginia Register-Herald said, "James' music transcends barriers; it speaks to all
of us." "His music brings joy to the soul and is the perfect music to grow and learn
by," wrote Sheri Rosenthal, DPM, author of The Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom.
Other creative endeavors include screenwriting (with the well-known
songwriter/recording artist/actor, cowboy Ed Bruce), poetry, art and a novel that will
be published soon.
James resides on a farm in the hills of Tennessee with his wife,
singer/songwriter and experiential therapist, Dawn Zurlinden, their too-smart Aussie dogs,
Iris and Angel…and a few stray cats.
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