Jim Tooley

As an Accordionist, Jim started at the age of fourteen playing in the school band. Sometimes playing with his mother and brother for family functions, while growing up, he soon learned to play the guitar and sang with a church choir. This took him up and into the military where he learned to play Country and Western music. Upon Jim’s discharge from the military, a garage band called The Country Gems was one of New York’s finest groups. Since then, Jim has played in various groups such as The Country Playboys, The Blue Valley Boys, also a country rock group called Magnum. Jim has performed in Nashville, been on TV and various record labels. Jim joined Phoenix in the year 2001 as a Lead singer and front person of the group, plays the rhythm guitar, and occasionally the bass guitar and when not performing, Jim like to kick around on the keyboard. Jim also acts as the sound engineer for Phoenix and is also a member of the Cortland Country Music Hall.  As of the 24th of September 2005 Jim has been inducted into  New York State Country Music Hall of Honors and appeared at the Hall Of Fame Show. The Hall Of Honors is the platform from which the selection committee will select the next inductees to the Hall Of Fame. We wish Jim the best of luck in the next few years! Visit www.cortlandcountrymusicpark.com for more information!