Jim Carlton is a popular fingerstyle guitarist, singer, comedian and writer. He began his music career in 1962 with Jim Stafford and Gram Parsons in their rock band, The Legends.

           In addition to his performing career, Jim has written material for several well-known personalities including: the Smothers Brothers, Gallagher, Pat Paulsen, Joan Rivers, Roger Miller, Mason Williams and Jim Stafford. He also produced two TV pilots at Universal Studios and has written for a number of television shows including the New Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS in 1988 and 89. During that era, Jim frequently created special material that appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Arsenio Hall Show, Nashville Now, Thicke of The Night and Late Night with David Letterman.  He also co-wrote, with the renowned musician Rodney Dillard, several comic vignettes for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Jim is also the author of the libretto for The Pirate’s Adventure, an attraction and stage show that has been running in Orlando for more than ten years.

           In 2001, Jim Carlton co-produced a CD for Sundazed Music entitled Another Side of This Life - The Lost Recordings of Gram Parsons, a compilation of recordings he made of Parsons in 1965 and 1966. Also in 2001, Jim was featured as a guest speaker and panelist at the prestigious music industry function South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.  

           Another facet of Jim Carlton’s career is that of noted music journalist. He has composed liner notes for several important recordings including eight re-released Capitol albums by jazz guitar-great Howard Roberts, a Byrds retrospective album, Sanctuary IV, two reissues of the late jazz guitarist Joe Pass, a new jazz CD by Vic Juris, and many more,  In addition, Jim frequently contributes commentary, reviews, interviews and articles to several music publications including his favorites, Vintage Guitar Magazine, The Fretboard Journal and Just Jazz Guitar, for which he writes a regular column.

        In the summer of 2008, Mel Bay Publishing will release Jim’s new book, Conversations With Great Jazz and Studio Guitarists, a compendium of lengthy and in-depth interviews with 22 of the world’s greatest guitarists.

      Jim Carlton lives in Mount Dora, Florida and regularly performs throughout the state. His act is a combination of standup comedy, exciting guitar solos, and vocals from The Great American Songbook.