Musician Jim Canody

There are some people who have lived such a fascinating life, you have a feeling that if you settled in, they could regale you with stories for hours on end!

Jim Canody is one of those people.

He and his wife Sherry retired here to the lake six years ago, and it just so happens that SML is not too far from where his story began. Jim was raised in neighboring Pittsylvania County and started “playing around” with a guitar from very young age. Over the years, he gradually taught himself new instruments, dipped into singing and songwriting, and nurtured a bucketload of skill to add to his repertoire.

As a teen playing gigs in local venues, the money he was making on the stage soon left other potential career aspirations in the dust. Around the age of 20, he decided to move to Texas to pursue this deep love of music even further. As luck would have it, he met Mickey Gilley, musician, and owner of the honkey-tonk bar portrayed in the movie Urban Cowboy. It was just the connection that he needed. Having the opportunity (through Gilley) to meet, play with, and learn from some of the biggest names in the business during his 12 years in Texas catapulted Jim to the next level of the industry.

He reminisces fondly about touring on the road (though he admits it's not nearly as glamorous as it seems!). There was that year spent playing all over Europe, the opportunity to be a fill-in member of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, his venture into forming a new band with a girl from Spain named ChaCha, and a good long run in Branson, MO. Ah, the good old days... Eventually though, the needs of aging parents drew him back home to the mountains of Virginia.

He now happily bears the title of “retiree” and loves boating and fishing from the dock, but it's easy to see that Jim couldn't stay away from the music scene if he tried. It's simply in his blood! In this season of life, he is partnering with wife Sherry, a retired nurse, who only recently, began to dive into music and songwriting more seriously herself. Jim says he's a "friends-and-family performer" now. Playing mainly small parties, though recently he was on stage acting and singing in local author Linda Kay Simmons's play, “Lightening Shall Strike”!

Giving back to the world that gave him so much is something that comes naturally to Canody. You'll find him manning Open Mic Nights at Hot Shots this summer (held every other Saturday from 5-8pm). The deep well of young talent in our area really excites him!

When asked about some advice he might pass along to up and coming musicians, a few things that came to mind were:

• Stick to your craft and your unique style. Don't let the trends carry you away. Stay true.

• Enjoy! If you don't LOVE it, then a career in music probably isn't for you.

• Try not to make it all a party. Take your job seriously - even though it is super fun!

If you happen to run into Jim around the lake one day, be sure and ask him about that time he lived on a sunken ship - and then settle yourself in for a good tale! Somehow, it involves gangsters, a Spanish mistress, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I tell ya, what a life he has lived!!