Biography
Throughout much of his working life in music, Jim Glaser participated in the family ensemble known as Tompall & the Glaser Brothers. His contributions to that trio, noted for its vocal harmonies, extended to session duties alongside Marty Robbins, where he handled guitar, mouth harp, and backing vocals on tracks including the landmark "El Paso" from the initial Gunfighter Ballads recordings. Additional years saw him touring and cutting material with both Robbins and Johnny Cash, while his songwriting yielded successes for artists ranging from Warner Mack to Gary Puckett & the Union Gap.
The three brothers—Jim, Tompall, and Chuck—were born in Nebraska to guitarist Louis, who instructed them in music while they grew up on a ranch. They assembled Tompall & the Glaser Brothers during the mid-'50s, secured airplay on Nebraska radio stations through performances at dances and regional gatherings, and first encountered Robbins at one of his shows. Impressed by their close harmonies, Robbins placed them on his own label, where their initial release was Chuck's composition "Five Penny Nickel." National exposure arrived via an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which the family moved to Nashville and joined Decca Records in 1959. Although no chart successes materialized at Decca, their studio work gained wide notice; Jim and Robbins band member Bobby Sykes urged Marty to record an entire album of western material, producing the hugely popular Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, which continues to sell decades later and sparked renewed interest in cowboy songs. The Glasers also contributed to Claude King's The Comancheros, accompanied Robbins on the road, and reached a career pinnacle by performing with Johnny Cash at Carnegie Hall.
Tompall & the Glaser Brothers achieved MGM Records placements with "Gone, on the Other Hand" and "Through the Eyes of Love" in 1966 and 1967, then followed with "The Moods of Mary" and "One of These Days" the next year before reaching higher chart territory via "California Girl (And Tennessee Square)" in 1969. Jim sustained his songwriting activity during this span, securing a Top Five entry for Warner Mack with "Sittin' in an All Nite Cafe," co-authoring the major pop success "Woman Woman" with Jimmy Payne for Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, and seeing Liz Anderson chart with "Thanks a Lot for Trying."
The brothers established their own Nashville studio, which served as a gathering point for the outlaw movement and attracted Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, and Billy Joe Shaver. They contributed a song to the film Tick, Tick, Tick starring Jim Brown and George Kennedy, and scored a substantial 1971 hit with "Gone Girl." Recognition came in the form of the Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year Award in 1970, and their first Top Ten single, "Rings," arrived in 1971. Two further years of activity produced additional hits, among them "Ain't It All Worth Living For," recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Once the siblings pursued separate paths, Jim launched a solo career at MGM, registering modest chart entries with "Forgettin' 'Bout You" and "Woman Woman" in 1974 and 1975. MGM's prolonged downturn left him without momentum until he joined Noble Vision in 1982. During the intervening years he rejoined his brothers in Nebraska after their father fell ill; Chuck, who had experienced a stroke and lost his voice temporarily, had turned to management and represented singer/songwriter Kinky Friedman, while Tompall oversaw the studio he had founded. The reunion produced a number three hit on Kris Kristofferson's "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" and a Top 20 single with "Just One Time."
The brothers again parted professionally in 1982. That year Jim reached the country Top 20 for Noble Vision with "When You're Not a Lady," repeated the feat in 1983 with the title track of his debut album for the label, "The Man in the Mirror," and scored a Top Ten placement with "If I Could Only Dance With You." His first number one arrived in 1984 with "You're Gettin' to Me Again," which remained on the charts for six months. Prospects dimmed after Noble Vision merged with MCA in 1984; although Glaser stayed with the combined company, further successes proved scarce, and he was dropped in 1985. In later performances he has continued to present his own material alongside a "Tribute to Marty Robbins," who died in 1982, acknowledging the extended period he and his brothers spent working with the country legend.
The three brothers—Jim, Tompall, and Chuck—were born in Nebraska to guitarist Louis, who instructed them in music while they grew up on a ranch. They assembled Tompall & the Glaser Brothers during the mid-'50s, secured airplay on Nebraska radio stations through performances at dances and regional gatherings, and first encountered Robbins at one of his shows. Impressed by their close harmonies, Robbins placed them on his own label, where their initial release was Chuck's composition "Five Penny Nickel." National exposure arrived via an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which the family moved to Nashville and joined Decca Records in 1959. Although no chart successes materialized at Decca, their studio work gained wide notice; Jim and Robbins band member Bobby Sykes urged Marty to record an entire album of western material, producing the hugely popular Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, which continues to sell decades later and sparked renewed interest in cowboy songs. The Glasers also contributed to Claude King's The Comancheros, accompanied Robbins on the road, and reached a career pinnacle by performing with Johnny Cash at Carnegie Hall.
Tompall & the Glaser Brothers achieved MGM Records placements with "Gone, on the Other Hand" and "Through the Eyes of Love" in 1966 and 1967, then followed with "The Moods of Mary" and "One of These Days" the next year before reaching higher chart territory via "California Girl (And Tennessee Square)" in 1969. Jim sustained his songwriting activity during this span, securing a Top Five entry for Warner Mack with "Sittin' in an All Nite Cafe," co-authoring the major pop success "Woman Woman" with Jimmy Payne for Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, and seeing Liz Anderson chart with "Thanks a Lot for Trying."
The brothers established their own Nashville studio, which served as a gathering point for the outlaw movement and attracted Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, and Billy Joe Shaver. They contributed a song to the film Tick, Tick, Tick starring Jim Brown and George Kennedy, and scored a substantial 1971 hit with "Gone Girl." Recognition came in the form of the Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year Award in 1970, and their first Top Ten single, "Rings," arrived in 1971. Two further years of activity produced additional hits, among them "Ain't It All Worth Living For," recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Once the siblings pursued separate paths, Jim launched a solo career at MGM, registering modest chart entries with "Forgettin' 'Bout You" and "Woman Woman" in 1974 and 1975. MGM's prolonged downturn left him without momentum until he joined Noble Vision in 1982. During the intervening years he rejoined his brothers in Nebraska after their father fell ill; Chuck, who had experienced a stroke and lost his voice temporarily, had turned to management and represented singer/songwriter Kinky Friedman, while Tompall oversaw the studio he had founded. The reunion produced a number three hit on Kris Kristofferson's "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" and a Top 20 single with "Just One Time."
The brothers again parted professionally in 1982. That year Jim reached the country Top 20 for Noble Vision with "When You're Not a Lady," repeated the feat in 1983 with the title track of his debut album for the label, "The Man in the Mirror," and scored a Top Ten placement with "If I Could Only Dance With You." His first number one arrived in 1984 with "You're Gettin' to Me Again," which remained on the charts for six months. Prospects dimmed after Noble Vision merged with MCA in 1984; although Glaser stayed with the combined company, further successes proved scarce, and he was dropped in 1985. In later performances he has continued to present his own material alongside a "Tribute to Marty Robbins," who died in 1982, acknowledging the extended period he and his brothers spent working with the country legend.
Albums