Farrell, James Allen "Jim", Jr., 70 , known to worldwide audiences as "Tennessee Jim" passed away on February 1, 2022 at the Kansas Medical Center in Andover, Kansas.  Jim, who had just turned 70 years old, succumbed to pneumonia following a serious bout with COVID.

Jim was known as a musical performer, songwriter, arranger, harmony specialist, music producer, recording engineer, and radio host. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Jim's father (also Jim Farrell) was a choral director whose barbershop group received national accolades.  Jim and his sister Stephanie were expected to be able sing any harmony part on cue as the family drove down the highway.

NASHVILLE YEARS

By the age of 14, Jim was an accomplished musician playing bass professionally with adult groups, and by the age of 16 was doing sessions and backing artists who performed on the Grand Ole Opry. Over the next few years he evolved on several instruments including keyboard, guitar, bass and percussion.

When Jim was 15 he started an informal apprenticeship with one of Nashville's renowned recording engineers and independent music publishers, Ben Hall of Home Place Studios. Ben Hall had traveled as a fellow performer with Elvis Presley in the early years and recorded many musical icons, including Buddy Holly and The Crickets, Roy Orbison and Alabama.

Ben and Jim worked together on and off for more than 20 years.  Jim was groomed to be a session musician, producer, and music publisher. Jim also helped Ben build two different recording studios, and learned how to hear and adjust acoustics, know sound frequencies; pick hit songs; co-write music; and be a contributing member of the music industry in Nashville.  Jim played and worked on hundreds of sessions, meeting musical greats from Jeanie C Riley to Garth Brooks.

Jim was a 1970 graduate of Maplewood High School in Nashville, where he was recognized for his musical achievements. In college Jim studied music on full scholarship at David Lipscomb College in Nashville and was one of the first students in recording industry management at Middle Tennessee State University.  Later he excelled in video production at Davidson School of Business.

Jim performed in several musical groups in his late teens and twenties, most notably a duo with Sheron Wilee called "Sheron and Redbeard".

WESTERN MUSIC

Along the way Jim became intrigued with the close harmonies and inspiring viewpoint of Western Music. When Jim met Stu Stuart in Nashville in the mid 1990's, they formed a group called J38 Land and Cattle Company with lawman Clay Jerrolds. Stu later returned home to Kansas, where in 1999 he recruited Jim to join a new group, the Prairie Rose Wranglers.  Over the next 8 years the group helped build a major tourist attraction called the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper in Benton, KS. They developed an avid fan base who followed them on musical tours from Carnegie Hall to the Great Wall of China, and on many "Cowboy Cruises" to the Caribbean.  Jim was musical director for "The Great American Cowboy" concerts at Carnegie Hall in 2003 and 2004, Beijing and Shanghai - China in 2006, and Nashville in 2007.

In 2007 the group changed its name to the Diamond W Wranglers and moved their musical home base to Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita for 7 years.  They continued touring the country and the world and have been considered one of the top Western Music groups in the country. Jim was particularly known for his "galloping guitar" rhythms that were a signature sound for the Wranglers.

JIM FARRELL STUDIOS

Jim regarded his work inside the recording studio as his most significant.  He produced all the Diamond W Wranglers CD's and worked with Western Music stars Rex Allen Jr and Roy Rogers Jr (Dusty) to produce some of their favorite recordings.  He also loved nurturing new songwriters.

Jim and his wife Martha met during a recording session to promote Kansas Tourism in 2003.  The title of the video project was "The Cowboy Experience", and so launched an adventure Martha could never have imagined for herself. Over the next 18 years she traveled with Jim, helped promote the Diamond W Wranglers, and worked on many projects in the recording studio they built in Towanda, KS. They were married on July 15, 2007 in Hutchinson, KS.

Since 2019 Jim and Martha have partnered with Rex Allen Jr in an internet radio station called "Truckers Radio USA", which has a format of traditional country, western and roots music.  Jim hosted a weekly Western Music show called "Full Gallop", which has listeners from all over the world and will continue to run as "classic episodes".

Martha remembers Jim as an incredibly creative and kind man; and a wonderful husband who let her know every day how much she was loved.  Jim was a man of deep faith; a great cook; and had a heart for helping people.  In the recording studio, she says, "He was extraordinary."

AWARDS

Jim Farrell's awards and accomplishments include a Wrangler Award for Western Producer of the Year for Les Gilliam's CD "It's Time to Sing a Song" (Western Heritage Awards – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum) and "Western Album of the Year" for the Diamond W Wranglers CD "Deep in the Saddle", from the Academy of Western Artists.   He had been Vice President of the Kansas Chapter of the International Western Music Association for several years.

SURVIVORS

Jim loved his family dearly and regretted not being able to spend more time in Tennessee with his children and grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife - Martha Farrell; Children – Shana Farrell Rummage (Jay), James Allen Farrell III (Lacee), and Sean Thomas Farrell; Grandchildren – Owen and Olivia Rummage, River and Ronan Farrell; Sister – Stephanie Kifer (Mark) and her sons Josh and Logan Britt and their families; former wives Shirley Banning and Sheila Sams Farrell; extended family in Tennessee, and Martha's brothers and sister, niece and nephews in Iowa and Kansas, who adored him.

Jim was also treasured by longtime Diamond W bandmates Stu Stuart, Orin Friesen, Steve Crawford, and Chip Worthington, and his business partner Rex Allen Jr.

He was preceded in death by his mother Sarah Janet (Marlin) Farrell and James Allen Farrell Sr. of Nashville, Tennessee.

MEMORIALS TO JIM FARRELL

1) International Western Music Association (IWMA) - PO Box 648, Coppell TX 75019

Jim had been Vice President of the IWMA Kansas Chapter for several years and strongly supported the mission of the organization.  Checks can be made to IWMA and sent to

2)  H2Ochurch.tv – PO Box 55, Towanda KS  67144

Jim was close friends and spiritual comrades with the pastors of H2O Church which is across the street from Jim Farrell Studios in Towanda, KS.  They have spent many hours in discussion and prayer together, and Jim admired their work and mission.

Please note: Jim was fully vaccinated against COVID but had underlying conditions that made him vulnerable.  We encourage all our friends and family to get vaccinated, not just for yourself, but for those around you.