Jim Waneka’s First Release “I Ride Alone” gets GRAMMY® Award Initial Nod
Song is on First Round Ballot for “Best Country Solo Performance”
New Country and Americana music artist Jim Waneka’s first song release, “I Ride Alone” is on the first-round ballot for the GRAMMY Awards®. “I Ride Alone” https://ffm.to/iridealone has been entered in the category “Best Country Solo Performance.”
This smoking-hot, danceable rocker might surprise with profound lyrics dealing with one of life’s eternal challenges. In “I Ride Alone” we find a man struggling to find redemption from unspoken previous deeds, knowing that he must “ride alone, from my past.” The lyric, “Lord, I want to be a better man” sums up the protagonist wanderer’s desperate desire – to at last find the elusive door opening on a redemptive path and a better life. Jim said of his first song, “I enjoyed embedding meaningful lyrics in this upbeat, fun tune. I share a message that is deeply universal while balancing it with an uplifting melody and strong beat. In that way, it’s kind of like old Gospel songs that make you want to get up and dance, and the message either hits you straight on or it might later sneak in.” The compelling beat, sizzling guitar, inspiring B3 organ, and soaring vocals prove “I Ride Alone” is for everyone to enjoy, whether its valuable lesson reaches home.
Jim began performing professionally at age five when patrons at a Colorado venue took up a collection for his impromptu vocal performance. This heralded a rare natural talent that seemingly foreshadowed success, but in his mid-thirties Jim reached a crossroads: whether to continue with music or focus on raising a family and the endless demands of building his construction business. He chose the latter, locking his guitar and musical talent away. Then less than two years ago an ethereal voice came to Jim, guiding him to pick up a guitar once again and starting him on a life-changing path and rebirth of his music and commanding voice some have compared to Johnny Cash, and songs reminiscent of Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Garth Brooks.
Born and raised in Colorado, Jim has always been surrounded by music. Years ago, he recorded some of his first compositions in Branson, MO, and Nashville. Recently, following the powerful ethereal voice telling him to follow a musical path, Jim began recording songs in Los Angeles. At the beginning of this year, Jim started recording in legendary Muscle Shoals. Writing all his own music, Jim partnered with some of the world’s best veteran musicians at the absolute top of their craft, who have recorded and toured with everyone from the Allman Brothers to Jeff Beck to Little Richard to Elvis Costello to Usher and many others. Jim has also pulled in young local musicians, all of whom add their virtuoso talents to this forceful song that sizzles with energy, emotion, and an honesty that is deep and genuine.
Jim’s two other releases are “A Different Man,” with the song link https://ffm.to/adifferentman and video link https://youtu.be/xglX8cBus7c and “Two Angels” with the song link https://jimwaneka.com/music/ and video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB8SHQ8z6o8.
Also look for Jim’s new catchy truck driver song “I’m Coming Home” on December 3, 2021.