UNK Recital Hall
of Fine Arts Building
Kearney, NE
7:00pm— 8:30pm
Beaver Run
Imperial Room
Breckenridge, CO
4:00pm—6:00pm
Big Sky, MT
TBA
Share Your Memories of Jim
In lieu of flowers we are asking you to remember Jim through his Grateful Music Foundation
Jim Salestrom is just such an artist.
Jim is an Emmy Award Winning Songwriter, a gifted guitarist and a seasoned performer who has been writing and recording music since he was 13. He has performed for four US Presidents, at the White House, at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and at the Supreme Court for his friend Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. He has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson three times and the Academy Awards show, as well as two HBO specials. Jim has also appeared on Ellen, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Jay Leno shows. His music crosses generational boundaries and is enjoyed by fans of all ages. Jim likes traveling and meeting new folks and sharing his songs and stories that have taken him around the world.
In 1977, Jim, along with his band, Timberline recorded the The Great Timber Rush for CBS EPIC in Hollywood California. While touring with Timberline, they opened for Dolly Parton. This led to a long relationship with Jim playing in Dolly Parton’s band off and on since 1979, including her 2011 Better Day World Tour.
While doing sound for John Denver at John’s first appearance at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, in 1972, he was one of the first to hear Rocky Mountain High at the sound check. Jim recorded vocals and banjo on John Denver’s Different Directions and sang with John in concert. He sang Rocky Mountain High at the Colorado State Capital when the song became the co-official state song of Colorado in 2007.
Jim has created a multi-media tribute to Buffalo Bill that played in May and June of 2017 in various venues in Colorado and he is now performing around the country, including Arkansas. Jim also co-produces the Shetland Reel Music Festival each August in the Shetland Islands of northern Scotland.
Jim performs regularly at the Yellowstone Club and the Stock Farm Club in Montana, as well as The Broadmoor in Colorado. Recent trips to perform include Florida, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, California, British Columbia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Alaska and Italy
Dear Jim,
I want to thank you for the wonderful CD’s you gave us. I listen to Jim’s music every time I drive my car, and I think I have memorized all the lyrics to every song! Each song is unique: The collections are a combination of music, poetry, history, heartache, and humor (from “When Momma Ain’t Happy…when Daddy ain’t happy, nobody cares!!”) There are so many contemporary songs that we cannot relate to, but Jim’s songs are both relatable and comforting. I was an undergraduate history major so “Going To The Sun” is a lovely background of the Montana original settlers. I think that every elementary or middle school should hear that song as a beautiful way to learn about their roots! I remember the Warren Miller films when I first learned to ski, so that song brings back happy times. I was totally impressed by the history that is so often alluded to in the songs.
Thank you again for the CD’s but more importantly, thank you for the renewed friendship. Old friends are often the best friends since we come from a common background.
~Aloha, Anita
“If you come to visit me at the Carolina Tree House, I guarantee you will hear some albums by Jim Salestrom. There is no finer music for the mountains. Jim is a unique musician. He uses his guitar and voice like a fine artist uses brush and paint...drawing the most exquisite stories I’ve ever heard.”
~ Rusty Edwards, The Carolina Tree House, Murphy, NC
Nebraska Senator John Lowe (a dear friend) delivered Governor Pete Ricketts signed proclamation, giving me a special honor of becoming a member in the Nebraska Navy. I am now an Admiral.
All the friends and folks we saw in Nebraska reminded me of how incredibly lucky we are to be from Nebraska. People are genuine and supportive and just plain nice. It is a wonderful place to raise a family, go to church, get an education, spend time in great outdoors, frequent great places to eat and watch the rest of this chaotic world in wonder. There is so much to be said for living in Nebraska. I am blessed that I was raised there. Thank-you family and friends and the Band Timberline for reminding me…”there is no place like Nebraska”
I was on Dolly’s video shoot November 13th 2020 in Nashville
Dolly turned around to me and said “JimBob…where are ya headed”? I said “Oh… I Guess I’m Just Passing Through”
Dolly said “Well ya got that right…. We All Are Just Passing Through”.
I started collecting stories from my childhood growing up in Nebraska. This led to reliving stories with my band Timberline, my friendship with John Denver, moving to Breckenridge, and traveling the world as a member of Dolly Parton’s band.
It’s hopefully humorous…and hopefully insightful. There are many behind-the-scenes stories. I shared the happy times because most all of them have been happy times!
It’s not too long and more hopefully entertaining. It’s about a life surrounded with a loving family, loving friends and a lot of happiness
“It all seems like a nice dream. Butch Hause captured each of the 5 Nebraska Timberline 50th Reunion LIVE shows and compiled a LIVE CD.
I hope you folks that shared the memories of Timberline will enjoy this magical time for us!
Jim Salestrom ~ Chuck Salestrom ~ Craig Link ~ James Salestrom ~ Ken Miller
In Memory of Bill Howland and Dugg Duggan
Recorded & Produced by Butch Hause
Watch Jim on PBS’s 11th and Grant
I had the joy of being a small part of presenting this song during the A Holly Dolly Christmas TV special on CBS!
Someday We Will Make It
James and I wrote this song the second week of quarantine camp at our home in Big Sky Montana. The song is about helping each other, healing each other, and someday being together back home.