Jim Halsey is an American artist manager, agent and impresario. He and his staff have guided, promoted or managed the careers of numerous prominent U.S. entertainers - particularly
country music stars - including 29 inductees of the
Country Music Hall of Fame and 10 inductees of the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1][2][3]
Halsey has organized and presented country music performances, particularly in the central U.S., but also on the coasts and abroad.[3] His 1976 tour, presenting Roy Clark and the Oak Ridge Boys in the
Soviet Union, won praise both culturally and in diplomatic circles. Clark's return tour of the
USSR in 1988 was the subject of a television documentary. The booking agency division of the Jim Halsey Company, Inc., was sold to the
William Morris Agency in 1990; Halsey remained a consultant for several years.[6]
Early life
Jim Halsey was born in
Independence, Kansas to Harry E. Halsey Jr. and Carrie Lee (Messick) Halsey. He attended Washington School, junior and senior high school and
Independence Junior College. At age twelve, Halsey organized the
Junior Marines (ages 9–12) to stimulate
war bond sales. They drilled every Saturday at Washington School. Dues were 2 cents per member.[citation needed]
A few years later, Halsey formulated his goals after absorbing the story of the noted impresario
Sol Hurok, in his book Impresario. In October 1949, following a vision from a book report assignment on the life of Hurok, junior college student Halsey was inspired to present shows and dances at Memorial Hall and the Independence area. His first show/dance,
Leon McAuliffe was the beginning of promotions that would include big band concerts, Broadway shows, classical music presentations, wrestling, ice shows and circuses.[1][2]
Career
The Jim Halsey Company, Inc.
In December 1951, Halsey founded the Jim Halsey Co. talent agency with first client
Hank Thompson and his
Brazos Valley Boys, subsequently discovering and adding
Wanda Jackson (1956) and
Roy Clark (1959),[2] eventually maintaining a roster of 40 to 50 stars.
Halsey has organized and presented country music performances all over the world, in many places for the first time. His 1976 tour of the Soviet Union headlining Roy Clark and the Oak Ridge Boys won praise both culturally and in diplomatic circles. Halsey's efforts expanded country music into Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
The Jim Halsey Institute of Music and Entertainment Business
From 1994 to 1999, Halsey created and served as director of the award-winning Music and Entertainment Business Program at
Oklahoma City University in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a Visiting Professor at
HED Music College in
Yehud, Israel, and lectures and teaches extensively at other colleges and universities around the world. He wrote his first book and seminar series, How To Make It In The Music Business. In March 2010, he launched the Jim Halsey Institute of Music and Entertainment Business, an undergraduate music business program at
Independence Community College.[8]
Billboard/Starmaker Worldwide Song Contest
In 1987, Halsey's company teamed with entertainment industry magazine Billboard to produce the annual
Billboard World Song Festival (later the
Billboard/Starmaker Worldwide Song Contest), a song-writing competition for amateur composers of country, pop/rock, black, jazz, Latin, and gospel music, with medals and cash prices awarded in each of those categories, in a televised program.[9] Categories for world, rhythm & blues and rap music were added later, the category "black" deleted, and the "pop" and "rock" categories were separated.[citation needed] Merchandise was added to the awards.[citation needed] The program is co-sponsored by Sonicbids,
Disc Makers,
Casio, GoGirlsMusic.com,
D'Addario Strings, TAXI, Indie Band Manager and BluBlocker Sunglasses.[citation needed]
1987 - The Frédéric Chopin Medal presented by PAGART (The Polish Artists Bureau)
1986 - Commendation for Outstanding Leadership in Promoting World Peace and Harmony through the Medium of Visual and Performing Arts from the Mayor of
Los Angeles,
Tom Bradley
Halsey is the father of the late director/producer
Sherman Halsey and is married to Minisa Crumbo, daughter of American Indian artist
Woody Crumbo.[24]
Published works
How To Make It In The Music Business (book and seminar series) Hawk Publishing Group (October 28, 2000).
ISBN978-0967313153
Starmaker, ("a comprehensive guide to success in the music industry"), Tate Publishing, 2010.
ASINB00V1DUUTQ[25]
"Joe Allison," First person interview (apparently) conducted on January 1, 1970, with
Joe Allison (country music radio personality, publishing and recording executive, and songwriter), with his recollections of working with Halsey.