Biography
Born in Woodstock, NY, renowned session guitarist Jim Weider entered the music business at the first opportunity. The region had become a magnet for major artists, as Bob Dylan and the Band both chose it for their recordings. Weider started cutting tracks and offering his services as a backup musician to various songwriters, saving enough earnings to relocate to Nashville. There he signed on with Johnny Paycheck’s touring ensemble while also sustaining himself through studio dates and regional gigs. In the early ’80s he returned to his birthplace and launched a tour alongside Robbie Dupress. By 1983 he had crossed paths with Levon Helm, the Band’s former drummer, who recruited him for his own road group. Helm’s admiration led to Weider filling Robbie Robertson’s vacant role when the Band regrouped in 1985 after Robertson turned down the invitation. Weider remained a fixture through the rest of the decade, appearing with the ensemble at Roger Waters’ staging of The Wall beside the Berlin Wall. In 1993 he performed with the group at both Bob Dylan’s Madison Square Garden tribute concert and Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Ball. Between these events he contributed to albums by Robbie Dupree, Artie Traum, Paul Burlison, Rick Danko, and numerous additional artists. His time with the Band ultimately surpassed Robbie Robertson’s original stint, extending through the ’90s and including a set at Woodstock ’94. During breaks from the collective he issued multiple best-selling guitar instruction videos and, in 1999, delivered his debut solo project, Big Foot, with the Honky Tonk Gurus.
Albums
