# Jesse Harms

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American musician (born 1952)

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Jesse Harms Born Jesse Harms Genres Rock Occupations Musician Songwriter Instruments Keyboards, Vocals

Musical artist

**Jesse Harms** (born July 6, 1952, in [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts)) is an American musician and songwriter. He has worked with [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar), [David Lee Roth](/source/David_Lee_Roth), [Eddie Money](/source/Eddie_Money), [REO Speedwagon](/source/REO_Speedwagon), [Bad English](/source/Bad_English), [Guitar Shorty](/source/Guitar_Shorty), [Patty Smyth](/source/Patty_Smyth), and [McAuley Schenker Group](/source/McAuley_Schenker_Group).

## Early life

Harms was raised in [Berkeley, California](/source/Berkeley%2C_California). He began playing the piano at 8 years old and studied classical music until he was 15. He lost interest in classical at that time, and in high school started playing the organ with a band called Zephyr, later Rags. They became friends with another band, Cookin' Mama, that guitarist Pat Thrall played in, and around 1971 some combining of the members took place. After high school Harms attended the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) but dropped out to concentrate on music. During the next few years Harms studied piano with some very good jazz teachers notably, Bill Bell ([Carmen McRae](/source/Carmen_McRae)), [Tom Coster](/source/Tom_Coster) ([Santana](/source/Santana_(band)), [Gabor Szabo](/source/G%C3%A1bor_Szab%C3%B3)) and [Wilbert Baranco](/source/Wilbert_Baranco).

## Career

### 1970s

In the early 70's Harms formed a band called “Rags” with [Pat Thrall](/source/Pat_Thrall) ([Pat Travers Band](/source/Pat_Travers_Band), [Meatloaf](/source/Meat_Loaf) ) and [Kelly Keagy](/source/Kelly_Keagy) ([Night Ranger](/source/Night_Ranger)). After trying to write original songs,the band started playing covers in clubs to earn a living. Pat was unhappy with the decision and left. The band went on to play clubs in California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Alaska from 1973 to 1978. Harms realized that he wasn't getting any closer to his goal of playing on records so, with [Pat Thrall](/source/Pat_Thrall)'s help he met [Alphonso Johnson](/source/Alphonso_Johnson) ([Weather Report](/source/Weather_Report)) who was trying to form a progressive rock band for [Elektra/Asylum Records](/source/Elektra_Records). After moving to L.A., Harms spent the next year writing songs with Alphonso, forming a band that included [Vinnie Appice](/source/Vinny_Appice) (Dio, [Black Sabbath](/source/Black_Sabbath)) and Joe Turano ([Michael Bolton](/source/Michael_Bolton)) and making a record. Unfortunately, [Electra/Asylum](/source/Elektra_Records) dropped the album before its release. Through his friend Darrel Verdusco ([John Hiatt](/source/John_Hiatt), [Mickey Thomas](/source/Mickey_Thomas_(singer))), Harms met [John Hiatt](/source/John_Hiatt). John was unsigned at the time, but he had a good band and some club dates in L.A. So, Harms joined his band. Through John, Harms met [Ry Cooder](/source/Ry_Cooder).

### 1980s

Ry asked Harms to play on his [*Borderline*](/source/Borderline_(Ry_Cooder_album)) album and then signed John and his band to tour Europe as his backup musicians in the winter of 1980 to promote the record. A U.S. Tour followed in 1981. Hiatt signed with [Geffen Records](/source/Geffen_Records) and the rest of 1981 was spent recording the CD [*All of a Sudden*](/source/All_of_a_Sudden_(album)) in New York and London with [Tony Visconti](/source/Tony_Visconti) as producer. The album was released in 1982 and a tour opening for [Graham Parker](/source/Graham_Parker) followed, but the album had poor sales and Hiatt let the band go. Immediately, Harms joined his friend [Pat Thrall](/source/Pat_Thrall) again to tour in support of Pat's new project [The Hughes/Thrall Band](/source/Hughes%2FThrall) with [Glenn Hughes](/source/Glenn_Hughes_(musician)) ([Deep Purple](/source/Deep_Purple), [Trapeze](/source/Trapeze_(band))) and Tommy Aldridge ([Black Oak Arkansas](/source/Black_Oak_Arkansas), [Ozzy Osbourne](/source/Ozzy_Osbourne), [Whitesnake](/source/Whitesnake)). The band toured the U.S. playing arenas as the opening act for [Santana](/source/Santana_(band)). But that album also had poor sales and was dissolved. Soon after Harms got a call from producer [Keith Olsen](/source/Keith_Olsen) to do some additional recording on a single from *[Three Lock Box](/source/Three_Lock_Box)* an album he had made for [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar). Hagar had been hiring a studio keyboard player and a studio backup singer to make his last two records and he had nobody in his band to reproduce the parts on tour, so in late 1982 Harms joined his band. Most of 1983 was spent on the road touring to support *[Three Lock Box](/source/Three_Lock_Box)*. The album earned a Gold Record and the tour sold-out arenas all across the U.S. 1984–85 were spent making [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar)'s platinum album *[VOA](/source/VOA_(Sammy_Hagar_album))* (which included one of Harms's songs, [*Don't Make Me Wait*](/source/VOA_(album)) and the support tour, which was one of the most successful tours of the year, selling out arenas and stadiums in the U.S. In 1985 Hagar opted to join Van Halen, the last date his old band played was [Farm Aid](/source/Farm_Aid) at [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_Urbana-Champaign) stadium which featured [Eddie Van Halen](/source/Eddie_Van_Halen) on guitar. In late 1985 Harms focused on writing songs and in early 1986 he got a call from Ted Templeman again to work on [David Lee Roth](/source/David_Lee_Roth)'s platinum *[Eat 'Em and Smile](/source/Eat_'Em_and_Smile)* album ([Steve Vai](/source/Steve_Vai), [Billy Sheehan](/source/Billy_Sheehan), [Greg Bissonette](/source/Gregg_Bissonette)). After playing on the album, Harms turned down Roth's offer to join Roth's band in order to work on his own songwriting. Most of 1986 was spent trying to form his own band under the guidance of [John Kalodner](/source/John_Kalodner) at [Geffen Records](/source/Geffen_Records). In 1987 he reunited with [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar) to record Hagar's *[I Never Said Goodbye](/source/I_Never_Said_Goodbye)* album that also featured [Eddie Van Halen](/source/Eddie_Van_Halen) on bass. The album included one of Harms's songs *Back Into You* and went Gold in the U.S. In 1987 Harms signed a publishing contract with Geffen Music and spent the rest of the year unsuccessfully trying to put together his own band. In 1988 one of Harms's songs, [*Walk On Water*](/source/Walk_on_Water_(Eddie_Money_song)) was recorded by [Eddie Money](/source/Eddie_Money) and went on to reach #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number one Rock track as well as a number one MTV video. The album [*Nothing to Lose*](/source/Nothing_to_Lose_(Eddie_Money_album)) went Gold, *[Walk on Water](/source/Walk_on_Water_(Eddie_Money_song))* also was on Eddie's Greatest Hits which sold Platinum. Harms is credited with co-writing the title track of [FM (British band)](/source/FM_(British_band))'s 1989 album *[Tough It Out](/source/Tough_It_Out)*, which spent two weeks in the British top 40.

In 1989 Harms toured with [Eddie Money](/source/Eddie_Money) as part of his band that included original guitarist [Jimmy Lyon](/source/Jimmy_Lyon_(guitarist)). Later in 1989 he began writing songs with [Kevin Cronin](/source/Kevin_Cronin) ([REO Speedwagon](/source/REO_Speedwagon)). At the time REO was inactive but with the support of management the band was reformed. His friend [Dave Amato](/source/Dave_Amato) ([Ted Nugent](/source/Ted_Nugent), [Cher](/source/Cher)) was added on guitar and Brian Hitt ([Wang Chung](/source/Wang_Chung_(band))) on drums.

### 1990s

1990 was spent writing and touring with [REO Speedwagon](/source/REO_Speedwagon) as well as recording their CD [*The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog And A Chicken*](/source/The_Earth%2C_a_Small_Man%2C_His_Dog_and_a_Chicken), which Harms co-produced and included *[Live It Up](/source/The_Earth%2C_a_Small_Man%2C_His_Dog_and_a_Chicken)* which reached #6 on the Rock Chart and 5 more of his songs. During 1990 Harms also wrote a song, [*Fallen From Grace*](/source/Brigade_(album)) that appeared on [Heart](/source/Heart_(band))'s Double Platinum CD [*Brigade*](/source/Brigade_(album)). Harms left REO in 1991 to get married and focus on Songwriting for [MCA Music](/source/MCA_Records). 1991 through 1995 were spent in L.A. as a staff writer producing songs that appeared on CD's by [Patty Smyth](/source/Patty_Smyth) (Gold Record), [Bad English](/source/Bad_English) (European #1), MSG, and [Johnny Van Zandt](/source/Johnny_Van_Zant) etc. In 1996 Harms co-wrote a song ([*Both Sides Now*](/source/Marching_to_Mars)) with [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar), which brought them back together. In 1997 he worked on Sammy's [*Marching To Mars*](/source/Marching_to_Mars) CD, playing keyboards and co-writing 6 songs. Sammy and Harms then put together a band that would later be called the [Waboritas](/source/The_Waboritas) and toured in 1997–1998 to support the Album, which went Gold. In 1998-1999 he was the co-producer and [Pro-Tools](/source/Pro_Tools) engineer, as well as playing keys and singing on the Hagar CD *[Red Voodoo](/source/Red_Voodoo)* which included 3 of his songs. The band toured in 1998–1999 to support the album which went Gold. The CD included the #1 rock track *[Mas Tequila](/source/Red_Voodoo)* which helped launch Sammy's [Cabo Wabo](https://vinepair.com/articles/sammy-hagar-cabo-wabo-tequila/) tequila brand.

### 2000s

In 2000 Harms co-produced, played keys and sang on Sammy's *[Ten 13](/source/Ten_13)* CD which included one of his songs and the band toured into 2001 to support the album. In 2002 Sammy released [*Not 4 Sale*](/source/Not_4_Sale_(Sammy_Hagar_album)) which included Harms's song [*Things've Changed*](/source/Not_4_Sale_(Sammy_Hagar_album)) which was the only single released from the CD.

2002-2003 also included the “Heavyweights of Rock” tour with [David Lee Roth](/source/David_Lee_Roth) and more touring in support of the ill-fated [*Not 4 Sale*](/source/Not_4_Sale_(Sammy_Hagar_album)).

In 2004 Harms was the Producer and [Pro-Tools](/source/Pro_Tools) engineer on [Guitar Shorty](/source/Guitar_Shorty)'s CD *[Watch Your Back](/source/Watch_Your_Back)* which also included 5 of his songs as well as writing, producing and engineering his own solo CD *[The Best of What I've Got](https://www.discogs.com/release/9861694-Jesse-Harms-Best-Of-What-I-Got)*. Harms also wrote 3 songs, including the title track, on [Guitar Shorty](/source/Guitar_Shorty)'s follow up CD [*We the People*](/source/We_the_People_(Guitar_Shorty_album)) which won the [Handy Blues Award](/source/Blues_Music_Award). In 2005 Harms purchased a [Marin Music Center](https://www.marinmusic.com/) in [Novato](/source/Novato%2C_California), [California](/source/California) which he operated until he sold it in 2019.

## Discography

### *with* [Sammy Hagar](/source/Sammy_Hagar) solo

- *[VOA](/source/VOA_(Sammy_Hagar_album))* (1984)

- *[I Never Said Goodbye](/source/I_Never_Said_Goodbye)* (1987)

- *[Marching to Mars](/source/Marching_to_Mars)* (1997)

### *with* Sammy Hagar and [The Waboritas](/source/The_Waboritas)

- *[Red Voodoo](/source/Red_Voodoo)* (1999)

- *[Ten 13](/source/Ten_13)* (2000)

- *[Not 4 Sale](/source/Not_4_Sale_(Sammy_Hagar_album))* (2002)

### *with* [David Lee Roth](/source/David_Lee_Roth)

- *[Eat 'Em and Smile](/source/Eat_'Em_and_Smile)* (1986)

### *with* [Eddie Money](/source/Eddie_Money)

- *[Nothing to Lose](/source/Nothing_to_Lose_(Eddie_Money_album))* (1988)

### *with* [REO Speedwagon](/source/REO_Speedwagon)

- *[The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken](/source/The_Earth%2C_a_Small_Man%2C_His_Dog_and_a_Chicken)* (1990)

### *with* [McAuley Schenker Group](/source/McAuley_Schenker_Group)

- *[M.S.G.](/source/M.S.G._(McAuley_Schenker_Group_album))* (1991)

### Jesse Harms solo

- *[The Best of What I've Got](https://www.discogs.com/release/9861694-Jesse-Harms-Best-Of-What-I-Got)* (2004)

## References

## External links

- [Jesse Harms](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1446710/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar David Lauser Vic Johnson Mona Gnader Jesse Harms Bill Church Gary Pihl Jonathan Pierce Denny Carmassi Chuck Ruff Alan Fitzgerald Robert Berry Studio albums Nine on a Ten Scale Sammy Hagar Musical Chairs Street Machine Danger Zone Standing Hampton Three Lock Box VOA I Never Said Goodbye Marching to Mars Red Voodoo Ten 13 Not 4 Sale Livin' It Up! Cosmic Universal Fashion Sammy Hagar & Friends Lite Roast Space Between Lockdown 2020 Crazy Times Live albums All Night Long Live 1980 Live: Hallelujah At Your Service Compilation albums Rematch Turn Up the Music! Unboxed The Anthology The Essential Red Collection Songs "I've Done Everything for You" "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" "I Can't Drive 55" "Winner Takes It All" Related articles Discography Cabo Wabo Montrose HSAS Van Halen The Waboritas Planet Us Chickenfoot Sammy Hagar and the Circle Heavy Metal Rock and Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar

v t e REO Speedwagon Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt Former members Studio albums R.E.O. Speedwagon R.E.O./T.W.O. Ridin' the Storm Out Lost in a Dream This Time We Mean It R.E.O. You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish Nine Lives Hi Infidelity Good Trouble Wheels Are Turnin' Life as We Know It The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken Building the Bridge Find Your Own Way Home Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon Live albums Live: You Get What You Play For Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Hi Infidelity Then Again...Live Compilation albums The Hits The Ballads The Essential REO Speedwagon Singles "157 Riverside Avenue" "Ridin' the Storm Out" "Roll with the Changes"r "Time for Me to Fly" "Keep On Loving You" "Take It on the Run" "Don't Let Him Go" "In Your Letter" "Keep the Fire Burnin'" "I Do' Wanna Know" "Can't Fight This Feeling" "One Lonely Night" "Live Every Moment" "In My Dreams" "I Needed to Fall" Video albums FM Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Live Aid (1985) XM Artists Confidential Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, The Yule Log DVD Related articles Discography Members

v t e McAuley Schenker Group Robin McAuley Michael Schenker Mitch Perry Rocky Newton Bodo Schopf Steve Mann Jesse Harms Jeff Pilson James Kottak Spencer Sercombe Studio albums Perfect Timing (1987) Save Yourself (1989) M.S.G. (1992) Live albums "Unplugged" Live (1992) EPs Nightmare: The Acoustic M.S.G. (1992) Related articles Members

v t e Michael Schenker Group Michael Schenker Steve Mann Bodo Schopf Barend Courbois Erik Grönwall Raymond Louis Kennedy Leif Sundin David VanLanding Kelly Keeling Graham Bonnet Don Airey Paul Raymond Tommy Eyre Andy Nye Jesse Harms Derek St. Holmes Billy Sheehan Mo Foster Jeff Pilson Jeff Kollman Stuart Hamm Pete Way Neil Murray Francis Buchholz Chris Glen Denny Carmassi Cozy Powell Simon Phillips Ted McKenna James Kottak Shane Gaalaas Jeff Martin Chris Slade Carmine Appice Brian Tichy Herman Rarebell Gary Barden Robin McAuley Doogie White Barry Sparks Studio albums The Michael Schenker Group (1980) MSG (1981) Assault Attack (1982) Built to Destroy (1983) Written in the Sand (1996) The Unforgiven (1999) Be Aware of Scorpions (2001) Arachnophobiac (2003) Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006) In the Midst of Beauty (2008) Live albums One Night at Budokan (1982) Rock Will Never Die (1984) The Michael Schenker Story Live (1997) The Unforgiven World Tour (1999) The 30th Anniversary Concert: Live in Tokyo (2010) Cover albums Heavy Hitters (2005) Related Members Discography

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jesse Harms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Harms) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Harms?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.