Media Resources
Jim's Biography
After stints as a high school band director, cruise ship entertainer and
air-traffic controller, Jim McDonough began selling his distinctive brand of
soothing piano music in gift shops in eastern Iowa. Today, the International
Steinway Concert and Recording Artist’s CDs are available in nearly 1,000 stores
across the country and via his Web site,
www.pianofavorites.com. Jim’s independent record label, Jim McDonough
Productions, Inc., has already sold nearly 200,000 of his CDs.
The road to success, though, has been paved with detours. In eighth grade, an
accident nearly ended his musical career. A falling piano crushed three fingers
on his right hand - and nearly crushed his dreams in the process. Jim emerged
from two hours of surgery with pins in his fingers and tiny fractures across his
hand. But throughout more than a year of physical therapy, Jim kept playing --
with a cast on his right hand -- and concentrated on improving his performance
with his left hand. "Playing the piano defined me," McDonough says. "It was my
life, and I was determined to play again." He devoted nearly every spare moment
to working to get back the dexterity in his right hand, and the rigorous
rehearsing paid off. In ninth grade, instead of a car, Jim bought a Steinway
grand piano to celebrate how far he'd come.
McDonough was recently
honored by the legendary piano maker, Steinway & Sons, naming him to its
worldwide artist roster. From classical pianists like Lang Lang, to jazz stars
like Harry Connick Jr., to pop icons like Billy Joel, to “immortals” like Irving
Berlin and Cole Porter; as a Steinway Artist, McDonough joins an exclusive
international list of the most accomplished and discriminating performing
artists.
His discography includes
Requests (2002);
Home for
Christmas: Christmas Favorites Vol. I (2003);
Projections:
Songs from the Silver Screen (2004);
An Ivory Christmas
(2004);
Music of the
Night (2004);
Simple Gifts:
Songs of Faith & Inspiration, Vol. I (2005);
With Love:
Timeless Love Songs, Vol. I (2006);
Homeward
Bound: Songs of Faith & Inspiration, Vol. II (2007);
Country
Dreaming (2008);
A Christmas
to Remember: Christmas Favorites Vol. II (2008);
Rat Pack
Remembered (2009);
Isn’t It
Romantic: Timeless Love Songs, Vol. II (2010);
Young At
Heart (2011);
Christmas
Eve: Christmas Favorites, Vol. III (2011); and his brand new
release,
One Nation
Under God: Songs of Faith & Inspiration, Vol. III (2012).
Now in its tenth year, Jim's annual "Holiday Grande" concert tour has become a
must-attend tradition for thousands of people each Christmas. The spectacular
holiday stage production includes Jim at the grand piano, his 14-piece
orchestra, a cast of singers and dancers, elaborate sets and costumes and the
true spirit of the season.
For more information, visit Jim McDonough's web site at
www.pianofavorites.com or call (800) 375-7095.
Download Jim’s full biography in Microsoft Word format Here
Download Jim’s full biography in Adobe Acrobat PDF format Here
|
