Jim Ed Norman

For other people with the same name, see Jim Norman (disambiguation).

Jim Ed Norman (born October 16, 1948) is an American musician, multi-platinum record producer, arranger and label-head. As an arranger and producer, he was one of the principal architects of the distinctive sound of West Coast 1970s pop and country rock. He was President of Warner Bros Records Nashville from 1984 to 2004.

Jim Ed Norman
Norman in 2021
Background information
Birth name	Edward James Norman
Born	(1948-10-16) October 16, 1948 Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Pop, Rock, Country, Folk-rock, Pop-rock, Country-rock, Jazz, Gospel, Christian
Occupation(s)	Producer, arranger, musician
Instrument(s)	Guitar, piano
Years active	1967–present

Early career

Having grown up in Florida, Norman pursued music at North Texas State University where he met Don Henley and joined his group, Felicity, in 1969, playing keyboards and guitar. After renaming themselves Shiloh, and by now based in Los Angeles, the group recorded an album produced by Kenny Rogers (Amos Records, 1970) which bore early signs of the direction in which 1970s country-rock would soon move en masse. The group disbanded shortly after the release of the album.

Norman then joined Uncle Jim's Music, a group which included award-winning singer-songwriter, Gary Nicholson. Uncle Jim's Music disbanded and he made the decision to pursue his primary interest in arranging and producing.

Music and arrangement career

Norman contributed string arrangements and piano to a series of bestselling Asylum Records albums by the Eagles, released between 1973 and 1980 including Desperado (1973), One of These Nights (1975) and Hotel California (1976). During the same period, he wrote string and horn arrangements for Linda Ronstadt's album, Don't Cry Now (Asylum, 1973) and Hat Trick by America (Warner Bros, 1973). He arranged strings for Bob Seger's 1978 hit, "We've Got Tonite" (Capitol) and Kim Carnes' albums St. Vincent's Court (EMI, 1979) and Romance Dance (EMI, 1980) among others. He would continue to accrue arrangement credits throughout his career and well into its next phase in Nashville, for artists including Garth Brooks (Sevens, Capitol, 1997) and Trisha Yearwood ("In Another's Eyes", MCA, 1997).

Production career

Norman's producing career began in the mid-1970s. Among the albums he worked on, and which featured his smooth signature style, were songwriting legend Jackie DeShannon's You're The Only Dancer (Amherst, 1977) and Quick Touches (Amherst, 1978), the first of which restored DeShannon to the pop charts with the spirited anthem "Don't Let The Flame Burn Out". Other productions included albums by New Riders of the Purple Sage (Marin County Line, MCA, 1977), Glenn Frey (No Fun Aloud, Elektra, 1982), and Jennifer Warnes's first hit, "Right Time of the Night" (Arista, 1977, US #6).

From 1977 onwards, Norman produced a large portion of Anne Murray's platinum-selling output, including Let's Keep It That Way (Capitol, 1978), New Kind of Feeling (Capitol, 1979), and I'll Always Love You (Capitol, 1979). Notoriously hard-to-please critic Robert Christgau credited these albums with Murray's "gradual revitilazation..." thanks to Jim Ed Norman's "...clean, honest, Nashville-quality work".

The albums were platinum-selling successes, spawning multiple hit singles including the US #1 "You Needed Me", which went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and a string of US AC chart-toppers – "I Just Fall in Love Again", "Shadows in the Moonlight", "Broken Hearted Me", and "Daydream Believer". Norman's work with Murray extended well into the 1980s during which he produced the Grammy-winning A Little Good News (Capitol, 1983) and Heart Over Mind (Capitol, 1984), both of which won CMA awards. A Little Good News marked the first time that the CMA Album of the Year award had been won by a solo female act.

While Norman had been known for providing arrangements and keyboards on albums that typified the lush, Californian sound of the seventies, as a producer his natural inclination towards country music became increasingly prominent through his work with such artists as Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Crystal Gayle, Michael Martin Murphey, BJ Thomas, Mark O'Connor, Victoria Shaw, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, John Anderson, TG Sheppard, Gary Morris, Clay Walker, Pinkard & Bowden, Mac McAnally and Brenda Lee among others. Norman was named Producer of the Year by Cashbox in 1989.

During the 1990s, Nashville became home to a migration of singer/songwriters and the city gradually became known for embracing that genre. In 1990 Norman added his production talents to this emergent trend, producing the breakthrough self-titled Warner Bros/Reprise album by singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman. He resumed duties for Nielsen Chapman's follow-up, You Hold the Key (Warner Reprise, 1993).

Time at Warner Nashville

After joining Warner Bros. Nashville as Head of A&R in 1983, Norman became President of the company in 1984. There, he was responsible for nurturing the talents of Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Hank Williams Jr, Big & Rich and Michael Martin Murphey among others. His new role was also notable for the fact that it did not curtail his direct creative involvement in music, and he continued to produce and arrange.

Diversity at Warner Bros.

Norman was influential at Warner Bros. Nashville, demonstrating an inclination to increase the company's range of genres. To this end, he was involved in the successful expansion of the label's reach to include the WB Gospel and Christian division, and the launches of the Warner Western imprint, featuring Native American and Cowboy artists, and a Hispanic label – Warner Discos. In addition, Norman created the Progressive division, signing artists including multi-Grammy-winning Take 6, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Mark O'Connor and American guitar virtuoso Shawn Lane.

Post-Warner Bros.

Norman left Warner Bros in 2004 and relocated to Hawaii. There, he quickly became involved in music, organizing a music business program between the University of Hawaii and Belmont University, Nashville. In a short space of time, he was widely noted for his largesse, and his commitment to and support of local talent, which also benefitted Honolulu Community College, with the creation of the MELE program.

In 2010 he returned to Nashville to produce a variety of artists, notably Curb Records star, Dylan Scott, for whom he co-produced the 2016 US Country Airplay #1 hit "My Girl" and the follow-up success, "Hooked" (2017).

Norman joined Curb Records in 2012 and during his tenure served as CEO.

Awards and philanthropy

In 1990, Norman was given the Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award – a Time Warner award designed to recognise those who have contributed outstanding degrees of community service.

In 1993, he received the Anti-Defamation League Johnny Cash Americanism Award, given to recognise individuals who have fought against racism, prejudice and bigotry.

Norman was the Founding President of Leadership Music, an organisation that brings together music industry personnel, encouraging community spirit, education, the cross-pollination of ideas, and issue-based interaction. In 2019, Leadership Music celebrated its 30th anniversary. In acknowledgement of his efforts to link the Nashville community at large with the entertainment industry, Norman was given the Leadership Music Bridge Award (subsequently renamed the Dale Franklin Leadership Music Award) in 1996.

Norman was presented with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award February 24, 2016 on stage at the Grand Ole Opry House. The award is annually presented to someone who has made a lasting impact on the country music business. Artists present to perform and pay tribute to Norman were Big & Rich, Don Henley, Mickey Gilley, Michael Martin Murphy, TG Sheppard, Gary Morris, Crystal Gayle, Mo Pitney, Jeff Hanna, Lee Brice and Kenny Rogers. Randy Travis made an unannounced rare public appearance.

Norman was the original Fund Raising Chair and past President of the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School, which provides private music instruction for the children of low income families given by an all-volunteer faculty at 50 cents a lesson

The present

In 2021, Norman won a Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for the Fisk Jubilee Singers 150th anniversary album, Celebrating Fisk! (Curb Records, 2020).

He continues to produce a wide variety of artists, most notably Dylan Scott, for whom he co-produced the #1 single "Nobody" (Curb Records, 2021) and the 2022 single, "New Truck" (Curb Records).

He is currently on the road with the Eagles' Hotel California Tour, conducting the 50-piece orchestra and the 20-member choir, recreating his original arrangements from the iconic, multi-platinum-selling album.

Discography

Albums

1970 Shiloh – Shiloh (Amos Records) Credit: Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, String arrangements 1972 Uncle Jim's Music – There's a Song in This (Kapp Records) Credit: Piano, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, String arrangements 1973 America– Hat Trick (Warner Bros.) Credit: String arrangements Eagles – Desperado (Asylum) Credit: String arrangements, keyboards on "Outlaw Man" and "Saturday Night" Linda Ronstadt – Don't Cry Now – (Asylum Records) Credit: Horn arrangements, String arrangements 1975 Eagles – One of These Nights (Asylum) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor, Piano on "Lyin' Eyes" and "Take It To The Limit" 1976 Country Joe McDonald – Love is a Fire (Bellaphon) Credit: Piano, String arrangements Eagles – Hotel California (Asylum) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor, Composer Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (Asylum) Credit: String arrangements The Group With No Name – Moon Over Brooklyn (Casablanca) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits (Asylum) Credit: Horn arrangements, String arrangements Jennifer Warnes – Jennifer Warnes (Arista) Credit: Producer, Keyboards, String arrangements 1977 Coast To Coast – Original Soundtrack (Full Moon) Credit: Producer The New Commander Cody Band – Rock 'n Roll Again (Arista) Credit: Producer, Arranger Coon Elder – Coon Elder Band (Mercury) Credit: Producer, Keyboards Jackie DeShannon – You're the Only Dancer (Amherst) Credit: Producer, Keyboards, String arrangements Juice Newton & Silver Spur – After The Dust Settles (RCA) Credit: String arrangements, Horn arrangements Rains & Harris – Rains & Harris (RCA) Credit: Producer 1978 Jackie DeShannon – Quick Touches (Amherst) Credit: Producer, Keyboards, String arrangements Anne Murray – Let's Keep It That Way (Capitol) Credit: Producer New Riders of the Purple Sage – Marin County Line (MCA) Credit: Producer Bob Seger – Stranger in Town (Capitol) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor 1979 Kim Carnes – St. Vincent's Court (EMI) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor Anne Murray – New Kind of Feeling (Capitol) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – I'll Always Love You (Capitol) Credit: Producer The C.Y. Walkin' Band – Love The Way It Feels (Parachute) Credit: Producer 1980 Kim Carnes – Romance Dance (EMI) Credit: String arrangements Eagles – Eagles Live (Asylum) Credit: Conductor, Arrangements Janie Fricke – I'll Need Someone To Hold Me When I Cry (CBS) Credit: Producer Albert Hammond – Your World & My World (Columbia) Credit: Producer, Keyboards, String arrangements Anne Murray – Somebody's Waiting (Capitol) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – A Country Collection (Capitol) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – Anne Murray's Greatest Hits (Capitol) Credit: Producer Charlie Rich – Once a Drifter (Elektra) Credit: Producer Urban Cowboy – Original Soundtrack (Asylum) Credit: Producer 1981 Mickey Gilley – You Don't Know Me (Epic) Credit: Producer Johnny Lee – Bet Your Heart on Me (Asylum) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – Where Do You Go When You Dream (Capitol) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – Christmas Wishes (Capitol) Credit: Producer 1982 Glenn Frey – No Fun Aloud (Asylum) Credit: Producer, String arrangements, Horn arrangements Janie Fricke – Greatest Hits (Columbia) Credit: Producer Mickey Gilley – Biggest Hits (Epic) Credit: Producer Johnny Lee – Sounds Like Love (Asylum) Credit: Producer, Electric piano, Synthesizer Michael Martin Murphey – The Best of Michael Martin Murphey (Liberty) Credit: Producer, String arrangements, conductor Anne Murray – The Hottest Night of the Year (Capitol) Credit: Producer Jennifer Warnes – The Best of Jennifer Warnes (Arista) Credit: Producer Teresa Straley – Never Enough (Alfa Records) Credit: Producer, String arrangements, Conductor 1983 Mickey Gilley – You've Really Got A Hold on Me (Epic) Credit: Producer Johnny Lee – Greatest Hits (Asylum) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – The Heart Never Lies (Liberty) Credit: Producer, String arrangements Anne Murray – A Little Good News (Capitol) Credit: Producer T. G. Sheppard – Slow Burn (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1984 Mickey Gilley – Ten Years of Hits (Epic) Credit: Producer Gary Morris – Faded Blue (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – Heart Over Mind (Capitol) Credit: Producer The Osmonds – One Way Rider (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1985 John Anderson – Tokyo, Oklahoma (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Bandana – Bandana (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Gary Morris – Anything Goes (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer The Osmonds – Today (Range Records) Credit: Producer Southern Pacific – Southern Pacific (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer, String arrangements 1986 Crystal Gayle – Straight to the Heart (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – Tonight We Ride (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer, Composer, String arrangements Southern Pacific – Killbilly Hill (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Montana Cafe (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1987 John Anderson – Countrified (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer The Forester Sisters – Christmas Card (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Crystal Gayle/Gary Morris – What If We Fall in Love (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Gary Morris – Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – Americana (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Born To Boogie (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Hank Live (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1988 The Forester Sisters – Sincerely (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Crystal Gayle – Nobody's Angel (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Mac McAnally – Finish Lines (Geffen Records) Credit: Producer Southern Pacific – Zuma (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Take 6 – Take 6 (Warner Bros.) Credit: Executive Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Wild Streak (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1989 Country Joe McDonald – Classics (Fantasy) Credit: Arranger The Forester Sisters – All I Need (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer The Forester Sisters – Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – Land of Enchantment (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Pink Cadillac – Original Soundtrack (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Kenny Rogers – Something Inside So Strong (Reprise) Credit: Producer Kenny Rogers – Christmas in America (Reprise) Credit: Producer Southern Pacific – County Line (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (Warner Bros./Curb) Credit: Producer

1990 John Anderson – Greatest Hits, Volume II (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Crystal Gayle – A Crystal Christmas (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Emmylou Harris – Duets (Reprise) Credit: Producer Mac McAnally – Simple Life (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Gary Morris – Greatest Hits, Volume II (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Beth Nielsen Chapman – Beth Nielsen Chapman (Reprise) Credit: Producer Pinkard & Bowden – Live in Front of a Bunch of Dickheads (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Kenny Rogers – 20 Great Years (Reprise) Credit: Producer Kenny Rogers – Love Is Strange (Reprise) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – America (Warner Bros./Curb) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – Lone Wolf (Warner Bros./Curb) Credit: Producer 1991 Holly Dunn – Milestones: Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Brenda Lee – A Brenda Lee Christmas (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Mark O'Connor – The New Nashville Cats (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Kenny Rogers – Back Home Again (Reprise) Credit: Producer T. G. Sheppard – All-Time Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Southern Pacific – Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer, Cymbals, Arrangements Hank Williams, Jr. – Pure Hank (Warner Bros./Curb) Credit: Producer 1992 Michael Martin Murphey – What's Forever For (Cema) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – The Bocephus Box (1st press: Capricorn, Reissue: Warner Bros./Curb) Credit: Producer 1993 The Forester Sisters – Sunday Meetin' (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer, Arrangements Kathie Lee Gifford – It's Christmas Time (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Kathie Lee Gifford – Sentimental (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Beth Nielsen Chapman – You Hold The Key (Reprise) Credit: Executive Producer, Producer Mark O'Connor – Heroes (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1994 John Anderson – You Can't Keep a Good Memory Down (MCA) Credit: Producer Tish Hinojosa – Destiny's Gate (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – Best of the Season (Capitol) Credit: Producer Anne Murray – The Best...So Far (Capitol) Credit: Producer Bob Seger – Greatest Hits (Capitol) Credit: String arrangements, conductor 1995 The Foremen – Folk Heroes (Reprise) Credit: Producer Glenn Frey – Solo Collection (MCA) Credit: Producer, String arrangements, Conductor Herb Jeffries – Brief History of Herb Jeffries (Warner/Western) Credit: Producer Herb Jeffries – Bronze Buckaroo (Rides Again) (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – Sagebrush Symphony (Warner/Western) Credit: Producer Victoria Shaw – In Full View (Reprise) Credit: Producer B. J. Thomas – Precious Memories (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1996 Chris Cummings – Somewhere Inside (Warner Music Canada) Credit: Producer The Foreman – What's Left (Reprise) Credit: Producer Tish Hinojosa – Dreaming from the Labyrinth (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1997 Garth Brooks – Sevens (Capitol Nashville) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor Anita Cochran – Back To You (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer The Forester Sisters – Greatest Gospel Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Crystal Gayle – He Is Beautiful (Southpaw Musical Productions) Credit: Producer Tish Hinojosa – Sonar Del Laberinto (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Michael Martin Murphey – The Horse Legends (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Beth Nielsen Chapman – Sand and Water (Reprise) Credit: Executive Producer Kenny Rogers – Decade of Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Victoria Shaw – Victoria Shaw (Reprise) Credit: Producer B. J. Thomas – I Believe (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer, Arrangements Trisha Yearwood – (Songbook) A Collection of Hits (MCA Nashville) Credit: Guitar 1998 Hal Bynum – If I Could Do Anything (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Chris Cummings – Chris Cummings (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Danni Leigh – 29 Nights (Decca) Credit: String arrangements Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire 1972–1984 (Raven) Credit: Producer Take 6 – So Cool (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 1999 Anita Cochran – Anita (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Janie Fricke – Super Hits (Sony) Credit: Producer Beth Nielsen Chapman – Greatest Hits (Reprise) Credit: Executive Producer, Producer Kongar-ol Ondar – Back Tuva Future (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Take 6 – Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – The Complete Hank Williams Jr (Curb) Credit: Producer, Composer 2000 America – Highway: 30 Years of America (Rhino) Credit: Arrangements, Piano Chris Cummings – Lonesomeville (Warner Music Canada) Credit: Producer Damita – Damita (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer Jackie DeShannon – Best of 1958 – 1980: Come And Get Me (Raven) Credit: Producer Eagles – Selected Works: 1972-1999 (Elektra) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor, Piano 2001 Dave Loggins – The Good Side of Tomorrow: 1971–1984 (Raven) Credit: Producer America – The Definitive America (Rhino/WEA) Credit: Piano, Arrangements Michael Martin Murphey – Ultimate Collection (Hip-O) Credit: Producer 2002 Clay Walker – Christmas (Warner Bros.) Credit: Producer 2003 Eagles – The Very Best Of (Warner Strategic Marketing) Credit: String arrangements, Piano Jeff Foxworthy – The Best of Jeff Foxworthy: Double Wide, Single Minded (Rhino) Credit: Project Assistant 2004 Jennifer Warnes – Platinum & Gold Collection (Arista) Credit: Producer 2005 Anne Murray – All of Me (Straightway) Credit: Producer 2006 Tish Hinojosa – Retrospective (Varese Fontana) Credit: Producer Hank Williams, Jr. – That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection (Asylum/Curb Records) Credit: Producer 2007 Crystal Gayle – Greatest Hits (Capitol) Credit: Producer 2009 Shelly West – The Very Best of Shelly West (Varese Fontana) Credit: Producer 2011 Bob Seger – Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets (Capitol) Credit: String arrangements, Conductor 2017 Eagles – The Studio Albums 1972-1979 (Asylum/Rhino/Warner) Credit: String arrangements Dylan Scott – Dylan Scott (Curb) Credit: Producer Ruthie Collins – Get Drunk And Cry (Curb) Credit: Executive Producer 2019 Dylan Scott – Merry Christmas (Curb) Credit: Producer 2020 Fisk Jubilee Singers – Celebrating Fisk! (Curb) Credit: Producer

External links

• Jim Ed Norman at AllMusic