Jim Court

Meet Jim Court from Auckland, New Zealand.

It was on hearing HISTORY for the first time in 1979 that started me on my AMERICA journey. Having always had a great love for music and the acoustic guitar in particular, which I started playing in 1970 at age 10, I found in this band music that moved me unlike any I had previously heard. I started on my quest for the albums; first SILENT LETTER, then ALIBI, HARBOR, LIVE and then to second hand record stores for the rest. So it wasn't until I had 6 or so albums that I was even aware of the existence of the first one.THREE ROSES blew me away and the album is still a favourite.It was while I had a 12 string Ibanez that I saw a red 6 string Ovation Legend for sale. Brand new, totally out of my price range, and the only one that I had seen that colour apart from Gerry's in the HARBOR songbook. In other words it was a GERRY BECKLEY GUITAR! After many trips back to the music shop I decided no,too expensive, so walked away only to hear YOU GIRL blasting out of a nearby stereo shop. VIEW FROM THE GROUND had just been released; YOU GIRL was my favourite track, and I took this to be a good sign so turned right around and bought the Ovation! It was with this guitar that I formed Tin Man,an acoustic duo,that played coffee houses,as they were then. AMERICA hit New Zealand in 1984; I met Gerry & Dewey which totally knocked me out and saw them play twice in three days,200 miles apart! The shows were outstanding! I eventually owned 3 Ovations,tho the red one was special,and now play a Martin. I am soon to be 41 and still love AMERICA as much as I ever did!

Feel free to send your comments or questions to Jim.