His work as a singer, solidly rooted in the traditions and R&B, was recognized with a Juno ( Best Blues/Gospel album of 1995) for the album That River(SPCD 1219).

Born James Thomas Kevin Byrnes on September 22, 1948 in St. Louis, Missouri Jim started playing piano when he was 5 and by thirteen was singing and playing blues guitar.

Jim moved to Vancouver in the mid '70s and in 1981 put together a band that became a staple in the local music scene, playing 300 dates in 1986.

Despite two swipes with death and some pretty hard knocks, Byrnes has still managed to rack up an enviable string of credits both on and off scene. During the '80's, the Jim Byrnes Band released "Burnin" on Polydor , followed by 1987 with "I've Turned My Nights Into Days" on Stony Plain. Both albums have been compiled on one CD available on Stony Plain (SPCD 1248).