Jim Rooney

Jim Rooney (28 January 1938 -) is an American music producer who worked with artists like John Prine, Iris Dement, Hal Ketchum and Townes Van Zandt. Rooney graduated from Amherst College in Massachusetts and holds a master’s degree in classical literature from Harvard University.

Rooney is a musician and songwriter, but best known as a producer. He wrote and performed folk music in the 50s and 60s, then moved to Nashville to work as a producer. His work there always featured great rhythms and instrumental virtuosity.

Rooney is now retired from music, and spends most of his time in his Vermont garden. About his success in the music business, he said that many people gave him the opportunities he got, just to help him out. “I always felt a real sense of gratitude and obligation to pay that back as well as I could.”