Jim Abel

Jim Abel (born March 1, 1947) is an American singer-songwriter born in Independence, Missouri. He writes and performs a style of folk and alternative music, influenced by the American Songbook, Woody Guthrie, Tom Paxton, and music of the '60s.cite journal| last=Dalton | first=Brett | date=2008-06-13 | title=Former executive trades briefcase for guitar case | journal=Lee's Summit Journal | url=http://www.lsjournal.com/100/story/11364.html] cite journal| last=Blankenship | first=Bill | date=2008-06-13 | title=Leawood singer-songwriter Jim Abel performs tonight at the Celtic Fox | journal=The Topeka Capital-Journal | url=http://www.cjonline.com/stories/061308/lei_290172337.shtml]

Abel began writing songs while attending Wheaton College, where he majored in philosophy. He subsequently received an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he was an Austin Scholar, and embarked on a successful career as an executive in the healthcare industry.

Abel left the corporate world in 1984 to manage his investments full-time and became a stay-at-home father to son Ted. In 2002 he began to focus more intensively on his musical career.

Abel writes, performs, and records a wide variety of music, including humorous and serious songs about love, friends, and family; political songs; parodies; and show tunes.

Abel plays regularly in venues in Kansas City, Missouri and surrounding communities. He has received a great deal of press attention including articles in The Kansas City Star, [cite magazine| last=Uhlmansiek | first=Laura | title=Leawood investor brings songwriting into focus | journal=The Kansas City Star | date=2007-09-05 | pages=BV1–] the Johnson County Sun, the Lee’s Summit Journal, The Topeka Capital-Journal, and 435 South magazine; TV coverage on KBMC TV9 Evening News and WDAF TV4 Midday News; and online coverage in The Pitch Wayward Blog, KansasCity.com Prime Buzz, KClightrail.com, and the Midwest Record.

Abel has released four independent albums: Live! from Death Valley Junction (2003); Patriot Act (2003); Decoration Day (2006); and Thunder (May 2008).

Abel lives in Leawood, Kansas, with his wife, Deborah Hays.

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