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Songstory Jim Hickey: The Man Behind the Music

Brent Foster

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Jim Hickey is a Grammy-winning producer, director, and writer who has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the stories behind some of the world's most iconic songs. Through his work with Songstory, he has created a unique and invaluable archive of music history, capturing the stories of the artists, songwriters, and producers who have shaped our musical landscape.

Songstory

by Jim Hickey

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2108 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	240 pages

The Early Years

Hickey was born in New York City in 1957. His passion for music began at a young age, and he started playing guitar and writing songs in his early teens. After graduating from high school, he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied music production and engineering.

In the early 1980s, Hickey moved to Los Angeles and began working as a music producer. He quickly gained a reputation for his ability to capture the essence of an artist's vision and translate it into a finished product. He worked with a wide range of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp.

The Birth of Songstory

In the late 1980s, Hickey began to develop the idea for Songstory. He had always been fascinated by the stories behind the songs he worked on, and he realized that there was a need for a place where these stories could be preserved and shared.

In 1991, Hickey founded Songstory, a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the stories behind songs. The organization's mission is to "preserve and share the stories of the people who create music, and the music that has shaped our lives."

Hickey's first Songstory project was a documentary film about the making of Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Songstory as a leading authority on music history.

The Songstory Archive

Over the past three decades, Hickey has produced over 100 Songstory films and documentaries. These films have covered a wide range of topics, from the history of rock and roll to the stories behind specific songs and albums. The Songstory archive now contains over 1,000 hours of footage, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of music history in the world.

The Songstory archive is used by researchers, students, and music lovers around the world. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of music and the people who have shaped it.

Awards and Recognition

Hickey has received numerous awards for his work with Songstory. In 2007, he won a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video for his film No Direction Home: Bob Dylan. He has also won awards from the Peabody Awards, the International Documentary Association, and the Sundance Film Festival.

In 2015, Hickey was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for his contributions to the music industry. He is the only producer to have won a Grammy Award in both the music and film categories.

Legacy

Jim Hickey is a true pioneer in the field of music history. His work with Songstory has helped to preserve and share the stories behind some of the world's most iconic songs. He has created a unique and invaluable archive that will continue to be used and enjoyed by generations to come.

Hickey is a passionate advocate for music education. He believes that music is a powerful force for good in the world, and he hopes that his work will inspire others to learn more about music and its history.

Jim Hickey is a true legend in the music industry. His work has had a profound impact on our understanding of music history, and he continues to be an inspiration to all who love music.