Biography
Who is Jim Messina?
Early life and musical start
James Melvin Messina was born in Maywood, California, on December 5, 1947. During his youth, he lived in Harlingen, Texas, until age eight, splitting time between his parents' homes. His father, a guitar player, significantly influenced his path toward music. By age five, he began learning the instrument. His early influences included Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley.
In 1964, at sixteen, he recorded the album The Dragsters with his band, Jim Messina and His Jesters. One track, The Jester, highlighted his early skills on lead guitar.
Career with bands
His tenure with the band Buffalo Springfield involved him working as a musician, producer, and recording engineer. He replaced bassist Bruce Palmer on tracks for their final record, Last Time Around. After that group dissolved, he helped establish the band Poco in 1968 alongside Richie Furay. He shifted from bass to lead guitar, contributing vocals and songwriting for two studio albums and one live release. He eventually departed Poco due to the physical toll of touring and a desire to focus on music production.
The Loggins and Messina years
Following his departure from Poco, he signed with Columbia Records as an independent producer. He began working with Kenny Loggins in 1970. He proposed a sitting in approach to Loggins' first solo project, encouraging the singer to record more pop-oriented and diverse material. Messina contributed instruments, arrangements, and songs like Nobody But You and Listen to a Country Song.
The resulting album, released in 1971, was titled Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin' In. The duo went on to release seven more albums, including Full Sail and Mother Lode, selling over 20 million records. They ended their professional partnership following a final show in Hawaii in 1976.
Solo career and later projects
His solo career started in the late 1970s. He released records such as his self-titled 1981 album and One More Mile in 1983, exploring folk, rock, and jazz. In 1989, he participated in a Poco reunion tour and contributed to their album, Legacy. Later, he and Loggins reunited for tours in 2005 and 2009, releasing live recordings from these events.
He also released the flamenco-focused Under a Mojito Moon in 2009 and the live set Jim Messina LIVE at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in 2012. More recently, in 2025, he toured with The Road Runners and released a live album. He remains active in production and publishing, while also leading the Songwriters' Performance Workshop.
Personal life
In 1970, he married actress Jenny Sullivan, though the pair divorced in 1980. They did not have children together. He later had a son named Julian, born in 1992, who became a musician and engineer. In 2001, he married his second wife, Michaela Laza Messina, who is a music teacher and opera singer. They have a daughter named Josey, born in 2006. He currently lives near Franklin, Tennessee.
Birthday and age
Jim Messina was born on December 5, 1947, which makes Jim 78 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Jim shares the date with 60 other famous people.
Explore more
