Jim Llewellyn's Biography
Jim Llewellyn, was born in and grew up in Drumheller, Alberta. His mother (Norma Llewellyn), father (Ron Llewellyn), uncle (Bob Llewellyn) and grandfather (Herbert Llewellyn -"Banjo Joe") were all musicians playing in local orchestras around Alberta. Jim started playing professionally in local clubs at the age of 15.
Jim moved to Calgary in 1972 and started playing with local rock bands doing one nighters all over Alberta and BC. While in one of the bands, Storm, they became Bo Diddley’s rythmn section for some Alberta shows.
In 1975 Jim joined Painter, a Calgary recording act managed by Bruce Allen Talent Vancouver. The band soon changed their name to Hammersmith upon leaving Elektra Records and signed with Mercury Records. The band then toured mostly in the US warming up for all the big acts of the time including Rod Stewart, Kiss, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Styx, Black Oak Arkansas, UFO, J. Geils Band, Leslie West, Rick Wakeman(Keyboard player for YES), and Spirit etc. When Barrie Barlow, the drummer for Jethro Tull decided to leave for personal reasons Jim was offered the gig with Jethro Tull. Barrie decided to stay with Jethro Tull.
After leaving Hammersmith Jim returned to Calgary to play in a Reggae/Funk band called Shango managed by Lou Blair (later Loverboy's manager). Shango did some dates warming up for J.J. Cale. After Shango, Jim worked as a freelance drummer playing all kinds of music with a variety of bands. He also taught drums both privately and through local music stores including drum clinics for Mother’s Music Calgary.
He toured with the recording artists the Allan Sisters (The Tommy Hunter Show). While doing studio work such as albums, jingles for radio and TV, Jim worked with Gaye Delorme and also played with him in a band. Sherry Kennedy, Cindy McLeod as well as others in the Calgary jazz scene were some of the great singers that he worked with.
The Jim Llewellyn Trio was the house band at the Blazing Saddles Comedy Supper club. Some of the comedians performing were Jay Johnson (Soap), Lyle Waggoner (Carol Burnett Show), Dick Gautier (Get Smart) and Dale Gonyea.
Jim also had his own jazz/fusion band and was featured in a local cable TV show. Jim performed in other radio and TV shows with Celebration, a local jazz/rock/fusion band, and 20/20 featuring Karen Case.
Enjoying all kinds of music, Jim has played all styles of music including rock, jazz, latin, funk, reggae, fusion, country, blues, big band, in far too many bands to name. Jim just recently became an endorser for the Phoenix Drum Company. He is featured in an upcoming interview on Drum Talk TV with Dan Shinder of Dans Drum Clinics as well as videotaping a clinic for Dans Drum Clinics at the Phoenix Drum Company.
Jim recently did a drum clinic for Long & McQuade University series in March 2014.
He continues to play in all types of bands and is always looking for a new challenge.
For a partial listing of some of the artists and bands Jim has played with click on the link below.
I have played with so many good players over the years I know that I have forgotten some so please contact me at the e-mail below to be added to the list. Thanks, Jim
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