The road Jim Yackel took to the cross was a long and winding one...
Yackel began playing nightclubs on the "Thruway Circuit" in upstate New York in 1980. The bands and the personnel were in a perpetual state of flux; however Jim's Beatles influenced pop-rock writing style remained as his trademark.
After years of pursuing the elusive recording contract, Yackel and his band Groovetown Fire Department independently released a CD in 1994. GFD did not last long after its lone recording venture, which prompted Yackel to go solo and release a cassette-only album titled "Petition" in 1996. In 1998, Jim Yackel retired from making music, believing that his exodus from music would be permanent. What he knows now and didn't know then was that the period away from music was but a temporary one. More accurately, Jim's "retirement" was a change of season and a time for restoration, which would lead him to being born again through Christ Jesus. Jesus gave him life everlasting and a new purpose in music making.
Circa 2005, the Holy Spirit prompted him to become active again in music, which led to the 2007 release of his first Christian-Rock CD, titled AGAPE'. The influence of the Beatles could be heard in the melodies and chord changes, but the lyrics spoke of Jesus, His free gift of salvation, and His soon return.
In late 2008, Yackel was joined by a colorful individual named Mike Case. Case had already played with Yackel on several occasions acoustically, as well as having done photography and artwork for The ROCK Music Ministry in the past. Thus, Jim Yackel & Company was born!
After much time spent in the studio and on the road (not to mention the Holy Spirit's additional prompting), the beginnings of a new album started to take shape. This was the album "So Very Soon" which was slated to be released in the beginning of 2009, though unfortunately due to circumstances beyond their control (namely, the economy) the album was delayed. However in summer of 2009 they completed the "So Very Soon" E.P. which features songs such and "Ashley" and "Land Of Oz," in addition to three other songs. Following the initial release, the songs of the So Very Soon E.P. consistently topped several charts of various different web entities and has continued to be a success beyond measure within the realm of Christian music.
So now, from the studios of Unbound Records to the ears of the listener comes the So Very Soon E.P. Enjoy.
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