Jim Messina on Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Reuniting with Kenny Loggins for Two Nights
Fans of classic rock radio are never far from hearing a song Jim Messina had a hand in creating. Messina, a singer, guitarist and songwriter in three celebrated bands, has also worked as an engineer and producer with some of rock’s biggest stars.
Messina formed his first band, Jim Messina & His Jesters, before he entered high school. When bassist Bruce Palmer was fired from Buffalo Springfield after numerous drug possession busts, Messina was able to parlay his work as their engineer and producer into the gig as bass player on their final album, Last Time Around.
Messina teamed with Springfield guitarist Richie Furay in 1968 to form Poco, one of the forerunners of country rock. “You Better Think Twice,” written by Messina, is one of Poco’s signature songs.
Messina left Poco in 1970 to continue his work as a record producer. Messina agreed to produce Kenny Loggins’ debut album but his contribution was so significant that they became a duo.
