Death , The Musical …. CD ( Jim Henman / Dawn Harwood Jones )

Back in early 2001  I co-wrote a musical entitled  “Death, The Musical” which takes a rather interesting ,  humorous slant on passing to the great beyond . Working on this project  was  the most fun I had in many years . This week while  getting my latest tune “Same Old Feeling ” ready for digital distribution , I ran into the “Death”  cd on CD Baby and thought I would send info to you all . We did a run at Chester Playhouse and Neptune Theatre in Halifax.  Dave Burton produced the CD . Most arrangements were by Konrad Pluta .  Jim

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deadentmusic

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JIm Henman Biography

For Organic SongWriting page click link http://jimhenman.com/?p=2862

Somewhere between the rhymthic yodeling of “The Singing Brakeman”, Jimmie Rodgers, and Jim’s love of 1950’s country songs, and 1960s folk and pop songs lies the roots of Jim Henman’s musical beginnings. Writing his first tune, at age 12, Jim spent much of his youth strumming a Stella acoustic guitar on the sandy shores of Clam Harbour, Nova Scotia. By the mid-60s, Jim, with high school friends Myles Goodwyn, Greg Stephen, Dave Dodsworth & Doug Grace started the top 40 band, “Woodies Termites”. Jim and Myles went on to co-found the Canadian rock band, April Wine, in the fall of 1969 with Jim’s cousins, David and Ritchie Henman.  April Wine moved to Montréal in 1970, signing with Aquarius Records.

Shortly after the release of their debut album in 1971, Jim decided to leave the band, moving back to the East Coast to start a family and pursue a career in Medical Technology. While his career as a professional musician may have been put on hiatus, Jim remained connected to the musical community in Halifax, continuing to write music and performing locally.

Jim officially re-emerged onto the East Coast music scene in the 90s, co-writing and co-producing the album,” More Than My Share” for Cape Breton singer, Jeannie Beks. He also co-wrote the music for “Death the Musical”, a stage production performed both at Halifax’s Neptune Theatre and in French, at Théâtre Génération in Montréal. This musical score was later released on CD. In addition to writing and producing, Jim also began performing in songwriters’ circles throughout Nova Scotia, alongside artists such as Terry Kelly, Laura Smith and Cheryl Gaudet.

Despite the mainstream success of April Wine, Jim’s contribution to the band can hardly be deemed his greatest musical accomplishment. Over the pass thirty years, Jim has dedicated his passion, enthusiasm and expertise to numerous projects, much of which hold special meaning in his life. One such project, “Night to Remember”, was a musical event (held annually for four years) that Jim co-produced in support of recovery homes for men and women in Halifax.

In keeping a promise to his late friend, Canadian blues artist, Rick Jeffery, Jim completed and produced Rick’s final album, 13 Vultures in 2009. The CD/DVD was released at the Dutch Mason Blues Festival in July 2009 with a twenty member tribute band who performed select tracks from the album. The tribute band included various artists from the Maritime Blues scene, including, Joe Murphy, Thersea Melenfant, Pam Marsh, Wayne Nicholson, Carter Chaplin, A. Jardine, Charlie Phillips, Mike Legget, and Shirley Jackson.

In 2009 Jim was installed along with April Wine in to the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame  and  in April 2010, Jim had the great honour of receiving a Juno award, commemorating April Wine’s  induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Indeed, this is the ultimate achievement for any musician.

Jim has recorded three solo projects in last 6 years. Same Old feeling , Shame, Shame Boogie (with April Wines Myles Goodwyn on guitar) and House Plants , a project inspired by writing songs with the fans at 10 house concerts in 2015. 

Jim continues to perform across Canada at house concerts and small venues. In spring of 2017 Jim was asked to join his old band mate; Myles Goodwyn,  original member and the driving force behind April Wine’s success, in touring an acoustic show ” Just Between You And Me” which was  a followup to Goodwyn’s memoirs release of the same name. They have continued to perform into 2019.  Jim has released the composition  Some Of These Children in memory of the shootings at the Parkland, Florida school in 2018 and in support of Boys And Girls Clubs in greater Halifax. Jim has developed his audience participation songwriting into the Organic Songwriting Method which has become a major attraction for his fans and audiences.  This fall he will release his second cd of songs composed using Organic Songwriting. 

Jim Henman Music  Blog at http://jimhenman.com/?p=554  has been set up as a vehicle to post information on songs , gigs and recordings  along with video of various performances etc . Jim’s  songs are available on itunes athttps://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/no-way/1088532726?i=1088533392&app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

The musical Jim can also be found at  https://www.facebook.com/JimHenman/

Listen to Jim’s latest CD Everything at https://soundcloud.com/namneh/sets/2018-compilation-1

A video sample from a show a few years ago in Nelson BC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy85Z7sZG10&feature=youtu.be

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Downs Really Up 2002

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEq9oSt6GL0[/youtube]

Downs Really Up written by Jim Henman and Peter Henry . The story of Peter and his son  Jonathans journey .  Peter asked me to write the music for his words. Our intent was to try to use the sale of the CD as a fundraiser for Special Olympics . Jonathan is an incredible athlete and always does his very best when competing during them  . Jonathan just came back from competing in Europe last month . Jeannie Beks and Terry Kelly  did  a great job on the singing  .  Arrangment  by Konrad Pluta . (song starts at 1.18 )

 

 

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June 13 Post . 1998 Original AW get together for lunch or a line up .

First time  all original members together at one time since 1971

Left to right  Myles Goodwyn , David Henman , Jim Henman , Ritchie Henman ..

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1971 April Wine

One of AW first Eastern tours,1971 . Somewhere in Annapolis Valley , Nova Scotia  . This picture were found years later in my friend , Beth Lockes, camera .

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1967 Woodies Termites first tour with roadie Bob Henman

Jim , far left .. First experience on road  in Prince Edward Island … Greg Stephen  and he got to taste Apple Glow …

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