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Welcome
Thank You for taking the time to visit www.jimcullen.com.
There are currently 3 additional sites available off this home base that you are encouraged to view to expand and enhance your tour.
The above suggested sites are:
www.facebook.com/jimcullenmusic
There are plenty of clicks off these sites that will help you learn more as you travel through the pages.
What you will discover are the second things I am.
What you will also discover is the first thing I am,
a person, just like everyone else who in his own right is hopefully running the human race towards a greater destiny.
Enjoy your stay as you share my experiences and accomplishments and consider the future possibilities yet to come and how we might collaborate to bring new ideas into the now.
Mine Yours Ours
Jim
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About Me
Jim Cullen has been a music and events professional for more than three decades and counting. A singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, event coordinator, technical director and theater director, this veteran entertainer and composer of a vast catalogue of original music has performed on stages throughout such northeast American states as, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware , New Jersey as well as the British Island of Bermuda
A gifted singer with a distinct vocal style, Jim has performed as an opening act for such noteworthy artists as Harry Chapin, Novo Combo, featuring former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve, David Crosby of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and CPR, Donnie Iris, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, Arlo Guthrie, The Grass Roots, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, country music duo the Ellis Brothers, The Irish Rovers and Mr. McFeely of the “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” television show. Jim has also performed on the second stage during concert events featuring such music greats as Todd Rundgren, Hall and Oates, Jackson Browne, Emmy Lou Harris and Neil Young & Crazy Horse.
Born in the nation’s capital, the talented guitarist has entertained audiences of all ages with his exciting brand of music at night clubs, scholastic happenings, concerts, private functions, festivals and special events. In addition, Jim has showcased his act through live and recorded performances via radio and television as well as through news media coverage and talk show programs.
An imaginative and creative songwriter with years of recording experience, Jim has released twenty eight of his original songs to date. “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” (a recommended top single pick by Billboard Magazine) and “Restless Dreams,” released on the 3C Record label c/o Laurie Records. His songs “Scranton PA.,” (which also received a recommended top single review from Billboard Magazine) and “That Championship Season,” were released on Jim's own Blue Moon Records label. “Package of Love,” was released on an album featuring songs by various other artists for a Christmas album benefiting the disabled. “Praise (the demo),” an inspirational 10-song collection, "North Lake," a 10-track, 8-song collection, including two bonus demo tracks, documenting recording sessions done at the acclaimed North Lake Sound Studio and “Gibbs and Cullen”, 20 original songs written by Jim Cullen and Les Gibbs were also released on Jim’s, Blue Moon Records label. “Scranton PA.,” also appears on the 102.3 FM The Mountain release entitled, Mountaingrown Vol. 4. He also has had additional success composing, producing and recording commercials, jingles and sound tracks for various public and professional clients. Jim recently finished a 15 song album for "King Song", a six piece Christian folk group titled, "Send Me". The recording includes performances by guest artists including Jim and is available on the Blue Moon Records label. Jim is about to release "gar*Badge" a 17 track documentation of his time with his former rock band Badge. This collection offers several live tracks as well as studio recordings. Jims is currently producing, writing and performing on the debut album of rising country artist, Dani-elle. "Dream Big" is a 10 song production featuring 6 original tracks and 4 unique covers of both country and rock classics. The album features performing contributions from Henry Gross founding member of Sha Na Na and writer of the million selling song "Shannon".
Jim is also continuing work on a legacy of original and cover interpretations garnered from studio sessions and live performances that will continue to document his creative and artistic output.
Jim has twice been honored by the American Song Festival for his original music and has been presented awards for his performance from Show Biz, a national talent competition, as well as earning honors at the FM Rock 107 Music Tape Awards. In addition, he has received acclaim and recognition for his participation in various charitable and events.
Founder and leader of numerous successful groups, Jim has headlined and performed with the likes of Tom & Jerry, Panacea, Gibbs & Cullen, Cullen Gibbs & McHale, Child, The Jets, Badge, Cullen & Casey, Cullen & McHale, Jim Cullen & Diane Lacono, Night Song, Rainbow Drive, The Unplugged Band and with the various versions of The Jim Cullen Duo, Trio, Quartet and Band - a list of bands whose former and current members read like a Who’s Who of the area music community.
Jim has had and currently resumes a second successful career as a consultant and event specialist for the Department of Cultural Affairs of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, as a Music Coordinator, helping to produce a wide variety of live shows and concerts throughout the area.
Further, Jim has regularly functioned as Technical Director for Scranton Community Concerts now Community Concerts at Lackawanna College, overseeing such concert presentations as the Kingston Trio, Don McLean and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Jim was recently promoted from Theater & Events Coordinator to his current and position as the Director of the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he oversees a wide variety of presentations in the College’s Mellow Theater. Those events include theatrical productions, film features, ballet and dance performances, media presentations, lectures, featuring such well known speakers as Deepak Chopra and a wide variety of concerts including such renowned artists as Jose Feliciano, Hot Tuna, America, Rebbie Jackson, The Temptations and The Indigo Girls, Henry Gross and Dave Mason. In addition, he also coordinates the College’s facilities calendar as well as supervising events held at various other campus locations, including educational forums, seminars, receptions, special events and graduation ceremonies.
Moreover, Jim also works with the Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau as its primary printed information distributor, promoting an extensive array of regional events and attractions through his courier service, Delivery Dog Distribution.
A teacher of the guitar, Jim considers it an honored tradition to be able to pass on to aspiring students the experiences he has learned playing the guitar.
A Musician/Artist/Event Coordinator/Producer/Theater Director/Technical Director/Teacher and Distributor with a wealth of performing, recording, production, coordination technical, management, teaching and courier experience, Jim Cullen offers an imaginative, creative, dedicated vision and experience you don’t want to miss. -
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Contact
Jim Cullen
P.O. Box 191
Dunmore, PA 18512
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Praise (the demo)
Track List (click for lyrics)
1. In A Moment
2. Show Me
3. Hear The Call
4. Don’t Listen To Me
5. Only Human
6. No Man Can Be Good On His Own
7. Strange Things Can Happen
8. Someone Else
9. Sing
10. Here In The LightA Note to the Listener
The songs that comprise this recording have traveled an estimated decade-long complex journey marked with both personal triumph and tragedy for its composer as well as its contributing members. Born out of hours of conversation between 3 friends as well as much inward reflection and outward study, Praise (the demo) was for its writer one of the deepest ways of expressing a life long search for the way home to God through his son Jesus Christ. This author offers a perspective from a Catholic’s point of view but wishes to reach people of all faiths and backgrounds with a challenge to find their way home to the Kingdom of Heaven.
These songs were first recorded on to an 8-note polyphonic sequencer and drum machine. These original recordings would eventually end up as the foundation and basic track for the entire recording. The original concept was to record the 10 songs on a 1/4 inch 4-track reel to reel tape recorder, thus these all important sequenced tracks were consequently recorded together on one track (along with live conga drums on three of the songs), in order to save the remaining three tracks for guitars, vocals and any other additional parts yet to be recorded. The majority of the guitar work was also done on one track with two guitar parts often being recorded at the same time on the same track. The 100 plus hours devoted to capturing the desired guitar sounds as well as the keeper performances gradually began to change the vision of the sessions into more then just a means of creating a copy of the songs. A minimal amount of track bouncing was done and by the time the vocals were to be recorded there were only two remaining tracks left, some with bits and pieces of guitar work on them as well. Not unlike the guitar tracks vocal tracks were also recorded on one track and three part harmonies not only had to be correct on one take, but blended as well. Almost all of the vocal tracks originally recorded were kept for what turned out to be the finished master. But as the recordings progressed it continued to become more and more apparent just how difficult it would be to complete the vocal tracks and a decision was made to transfer the original 4 tracks on to a 16 track ADAT format. The studio in which this initial process was done closed down not long after this phase of the project was started and the session were taken to another studio for completion.
What you now hear is the results of many spiritual, mental, physical and technical battles fought and won to make these songs available to whomever may want to listen. May these recordings make us all a little richer and wiser for having done so.
Bring it back times 10
Jim Cullen -
North Lake
Track List (click for lyrics)
1. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
2. Restless Dreams
3. Scranton PA.
4. That Championship Season
5. Easy Street (demo)
6. Closer To You (demo)
7. Closer To You (studio version)
8. Man Things (demo)
9. Man Things (studio version)
10. She’s Comin’ Out Tonight
A Note to the Listener
The tracks contained on this album help document a singular and distinctive moment in the career and experience of its composer.
It marks a time when its writer threw his hat into the bigger arena and rubbed elbows with some of the most prominent east coast session players of the day.
Some of New York’s finest were recruited by Producer, “Crazy Joe” Renda and assembled at the then up and coming, fast moving, North Lake Sound Studio located in the a country setting, in North White Plains, New York.
A state of the art recording studio of its day, NLS was a concept brought to life by Jon Voight, brother Chip Taylor and “Crazy Joe” Renda.
Jon Voight, the Academy Award winning actor and star of numerous motion picture classics including, Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance and The Champ teamed up with, music legend brother Chip Taylor, author of such all-time hits as, “Wild Thing” and the timeless “Angel of the Morning” and his tried and true keyboard compadre, Joe Renda, the mad man behind such hits as “Eugene”, to form a solid foundation for a world class recording facility of its time.
Artists such as James Taylor and Don McLean were just a few of the many recognized music greats to record at North Lake and I too, became part of the long list of aspiring and established artists to lay down tracks at NLS.
Boiled down, it’s a people world with a music business.
“Crazy Joe” was one of the good guys who offered his help to a hungry and determined kid trying to sing, write and strum his way into The Big Time.
The sessions took place between 1982 and 1985, and four of the tracks were released on a pair of 45’s.
Two of the tracks, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” and “Scranton Pa.” were selected by Billboard Magazine to be top single picks and several labels such as PolyGram and Arista expressed interest as well. The search for a label and financial backing ensued but as the years passed, all moved on to other projects and endeavors. Two decades plus took their toll on the tapes used to construct this album and through a process of baking and reformatting the tapes, some masters, some copies, some how survived.
I’d like to once again say thank you to all involved, with a special thanks to Joe and my family.
We’ll have to do it again sometime!
Jim Cullen
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Gibbs and Cullen
Track List (click for lyrics)
1. You and Me
2. Unknown Song
3. Conquer The City
4. Making My Peace with the Past
5. A Part of You
6. There’s Always Tomorrow
7. Lonely Without Me
8 Something That You Might Do
9. Take Hold
10. Don’t Look Back
11. Steppin’ Outta Line
12. Give Me a Chance
13. The Heart of the Children
14. Next to the Sea
15. Street Walker
16. Sailor
17. Slow Down
18. What is Love
19. Rhymes and Reasons
20. Keep Your Head Above The WaterA (must read) Perspective for the Listener
There are things on this CD that I love and there are things that can make me cringe. There are once in a lifetime performances mixed with experimental parts, hurried tracks and rushed production calls all wrapped up into one documented package.
The definitive versions of these songs has yet to be captured and they may never be, but the essence of the writing remains intact
The selected interpretations of these tracks were chosen from multiple versions recorded during the era of the day whenever and wherever tape was rolling.
The tracks recorded at the WVIA Studios located in Pittston, Pennsylvania date back from 1977 to 1981.
These tracks were chosen from sessions for their consistent texture as well as their representation of the musical partnership that was Gibbs and Cullen.
As many as a half dozen songs or more were recorded in a single session usually lasting 4 to 6 hours, give or take.
As previously mentioned in several instances, different versions of the songs were recorded on different occasions along with other original music not heard on this CD.
These 20 tracks were selected from that larger volume of songs recorded at the studio, and were chosen because they represented the best efforts laid down in what was basically a live recording with a few over dubs recorded on an 8 track console.
In the summer of 1977, Jim Cullen and Les Gibbs debuted their harmonic, high-energy duo in a rustic neighborhood Tap Room in a small Pennsylvania town. What ensued was to become a continuing journey born of that partnership which would help to shape in many ways the course of the years ahead. From their first performance to their final reunion shows, Gibbs & Cullen often proved to be a strong draw frequently filling rooms with their enthusiastic following as well as attracting new music fans to the variety of venues they played.Prolific songwriters the aspiring pair regularly performed their original music as a major part of their live shows. The two took their act throughout the northeast making regular stops throughout PA, showcasing original songs in New York City, performing at the Jersey shore, and traveling as far away as the island of Bermuda.
The two singers also opened up for established recording artists such as Arlo Guthrie and members of the legendary group, The Band. After a short 6 month run as a duo a succession of larger acts followed including; Cullen Gibbs & McHale; Child; (the self titled) Gibbs & Cullen Band; and the Jets. The pair officially disbanded in 1981 however due to local popular demand the two continued to perform over 100 more shows before Les Gibbs left the area in the 1985. The legacy of this partnership has opened many new doors throughout the years and the vast amount of original music left behind is still reaching listeners today. I mark this partnership as a life journey highlight. Thanks to all who heard and helped!
All the Best
Jim Cullen -
As the 2005 new year began so did Jim Cullen’s tenure as Theater and Events Coordinator for Lackawanna College and its spectacularly restored landmark, Mellow Theater. An elegant one thousand plus seat house, this magnificent space was named for its benefactor, Pennsylvania State Senator, Robert Mellow. In 2009 Jim took the helm as Director and has been smooth sailing ever since. Throughout its lauded history the acclaimed venue that became known as the Mellow Theater has hosted such renown artists which include, John Phillip Sousa, Rachmaninoff, Ronan Tynan, The Kingston Trio, Don McLean, Jose Feliciano, Hot Tuna, America, The Indigo Girls, Henry Gross and Dave Mason.
The Mellow Theater is a consistently busy venue accommodating a wide variety of presentations including, concerts, student play productions, ballets, dance recitals, graduation ceremonies, film festivals, academic, literary, political and medical forums in addition to providing the introductory door to aspiring students coming to Lackawanna College.
Jim oversees the hands on operation from concept to applause. Jim has been very fortunate to draw from the wisdom and support of many mentors and is eternally grateful to all the his friends for their inspired direction and support.
Considered a wonderful opportunity and an honor, Jim looks forward to the continued enhancement on the tradition of this acclaimed space he at times likes to refers to as,“ The Fabulous Mellow Theater!”
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Delivery Dog Distribution
Delivery Dog Distribution is a promotional courier service that was established in 1997 and incorporated into the development of the Northeast Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Jim is DDD’s “top dog” who along with his canine counterpart deliver vital tourism information to Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond, promoting a wide variety of regional offerings including, concert and sporting events, attractions, historic sites, cultural presentations, annually celebrated festivals, lodging, local and area business details as well as direction information to all locations.
Delivery Dog Distribution continues to develop and grow along with the Lackawanna County CVB and its members as it moves into its second decade of “making sure it’s done right!” -
Guitar Lessons
To all my potential and continuing students, let me first say what a pleasure it is for me to be your guitar teacher and a part of your journey towards becoming an accomplished GUITAR PLAYER!
I truly believe that music is a universal language and through your expression with the guitar you will be able to communicate to yourself and to others, thoughts, emotions and feelings that are both fun & important through what you have accomplished with your efforts to learn this simple yet complex and rewarding musical instrument.
My teaching location is in the main campus building of Lackawanna College located at 501 Vine Street, just inside of downtown, Scranton, Pennsylvania. The College atmosphere lends itself to a teaching environment conducive to the educational achievements of each individual student.
Parking is available pending College usage in two large parking areas located on site, as well as available street parking.
Any calls involving your guitar studies will be taken at a number you will be provided upon your decision to pursue guitar lessons.
If your call is not immediately answered please leave a voice mail concerning the nature of your call.
Below are policy requirements that I believe will make this process better and more efficient for all concerned parties which include, the Students/Parents, Myself/the Teacher and the Facility were your lessons will take place.
Students will be assigned a weekly lesson time.
This time will then be reserved as YOUR time.
Lessons during the week will be scheduled after College operating hours.
Weekend hours are available pending College functions.
Cancellation of YOUR time requires notification 24 hours prior to your scheduled lesson.
This request will apply to both the Student and Myself.
Failure to comply with this request will require full payment for the scheduled lesson on the part of the student or a free lesson on the part of myself, the teacher if this requirement is not adhered to.
In the event of a true emergency this policy will not apply and is not to be considered as a binding contractual agreement but rather as a common courtesy to all involved parties who all plan busy schedules.
Lessons which need to be rescheduled on a different day and time are VERY acceptable but also need to be done 24 hours prior to YOUR scheduled time.
Availability on the part of both the student and the teacher will be considered and if no agreeable time is available then the lesson will be rescheduled for your time on the following week.
Again true emergencies do not apply.
I believe that consideration of other people’s time is another beneficial lesson that is to be learned through the magical experience of becoming A GUITAR PLAYER!
Cancellations and Re-Scheduling can be done simply by leaving a voice mail (unless of course I answer) at the number you will be given upon your enrollment.
I am looking forward to the education of both my students and myself as we walk together through this Universal Galaxy called THE GUITAR!
