When you have a birthplace of St. Louis Missouri, and you grow up regularly listening to some of the best blues musicians to walk the planet, it becomes no stretch of the imagination, that you too, fall into the blues music industry, naturally. And if your name is Jim Byrnes, this is the story of your beginnings.

By the age of thirteen, Byrnes had already begun his love affair with singing and playing the blues guitar. As a teenager, he became ingrained in the culture, frequenting local clubs with his buddy where they were often the only Caucasian people in the place. According to Byrnes, they were part of the culture and so, never had any issues, “We never had any problems. We were too naïve, and had too much respect for the music and culture – they knew it, they could tell.”

It wasn’t until he moved to Vancouver in the mid-70’s after drifting across the states playing gigs and working odd jobs that he finally began to find his footing in the music industry later forming the Jim Byrnes Band in 1981 that served as a foundation for his career later on.

Since then, Byrnes has gone on to play with the likes of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray and Taj Mahal, to name a few in the blues world. He still plays an average of 100 shows a year, and has won countless awards including 3 Junos in his career spanning 45 years. Byrnes has also succeeded as an actor appearing in TV’s Wiseguy, the Highlander, and in his own variety show The Jim Byrnes Show and countless others.

In recent years, Byrnes joined forces with critically acclaimed roots music producer Steve Dawson to release five albums in six years, including two-Juno award winning albums House of Refuge (2006) and Everywhere West (2011).

His latest music St. Louis Times (2014), includes highly personal tracks celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri. The album contains original compositions along with versions of old songs from his past that were recorded by St. Louis musicians. The album explores his early roots, taking an intimate journey to recall songs associated with Little Milton, Chuck Berry and other greats. His smoky, powerful vocals, and passion for the craft can be heard on all his recordings as well as during his moving live performances.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s (he’s doing) low down blues, gospel, R&B, old time, swing, country or good old rock and roll – when Jim Byrnes sings, it’s the real deal.”

Jim Byrnes, American-born, Canadian-resident, has become a blues legend in his own right, able to take the story and the music to the next level truly feeling the music and bringing it to life for audiences. Creekside Theatre is proud to bring Jim Byrnes to Lake Country on Friday, November 25th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 available at the door, online at www.creeksidetheatre.com or by calling 250-860-2867.