Jim Bianco

Jim Bianco (born March 25, 1976) is an independent musician, singer, songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 25, 1976, Bianco is the youngest child of James Bianco, Jr. and Jane (née Levy) Bianco.

The family, which also includes one older sister, moved from Brooklyn to Long Island, New York.

According to his biography, in 1979 Bianco's father traded two 35 pound barbells and a bench press for the first upright piano in the Bianco home.

As a youth, Bianco studied piano and played bass guitar in local bands.

Bianco graduated from high school in 1994 and from college in 1998.

After graduation, Bianco spent time in Europe.

Upon returning to the United States, a friend from college invited Bianco to Los Angeles, California, to play in his band.

Bianco moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 2000.

He played bass and wrote songs with the group until they disbanded.

Bianco decided to learn to play the guitar, refine his singing skills and set about assembling a band of his own.

He rented a room in West Los Angeles for $80 a month and practiced until he felt comfortable sharing his music.

He began attending open mic nights around Los Angeles, performing at least three nights a week.

One evening he attended a songwriter night at a small coffee shop in Hollywood called the Hotel Café.

Soon after, Bianco was invited to open for Gary Jules.

The Hotel Café has grown from a small coffee shop into what is now considered one of the finest venues in Los Angeles.

The Hotel Café has been credited for the renaissance of the Los Angeles singer/songwriter movement that began in the early 2000s.

Initiated by Gary Jules’ idea of creating a supportive space for artists to hone their craft, coupled with appropriate timing and genuine need, musicians began gravitating to the Hotel Café.

In a cooperative effort, Bianco, along with fellow musicians Gary Jules, Cary Brothers and owners Marko Schafer and Max Mamikunian, worked together to transform the space, book, promote and perform shows.

Their efforts received a big promotional push from legendary KCRW music director Nic Harcourt.

Today, the Hotel Café is considered one of the best venues in Los Angeles, noted for the superior sound, intimate setting and quality of the acts that perform on the bill.

Bianco is a regular performer at the Hotel Café and his residencies are a popular favorite.

Usually playing with his full band, Bianco's sets have a reputation for being sold-out, high energy and sexually charged events.

On occasion, Bianco has rented a catwalk and invited his burlesque dancer friends to perform and throw feathers during his set.

Bianco is also known for eliminating the traditional fourth wall between audience and performer by leading his band into the center of the audience during his song “Sing” encouraging audience participation, which culminates in a sing-along.

Bianco's full band was established by 2003.

The first official member to join the band was drummer, Jason Pipkin.

Bianco met Pipkin at a gig the day that Pipkin arrived in California from Texas.

Bianco asked Kenny Lyon (then just a friend) to suggest a bass player and was introduced to Josef Zimmerman.

Bianco began looking for a saxophone player and Zimmerman suggested Matt DeMerritt.

After seeing Bianco's show, multi-instrumentalist Brad Gordon joined the crew offering to play keyboard, trumpet, clarinet and accordion.

After seeing Bianco's show at The Mint in Los Angeles, Kenny Lyon decided to join the band.

Cary Brothers is credited for initiating and producing the Hotel Cafe Tour that began in 2005.

Bianco has been included in the roster of headlining performers on the tour since its inception.

He is one of the few of the Hotel Café artists that has participated in both the US and European legs of the tour.

Other notable artists that have participated in this event are: Jessie Baylin, Sara Bareilles, Cary Brothers, Holly Conlan, William Fitzsimmons, Greg Laswell, Imogen Heap, Gary Jules, Tom McRae, Mandy Moore, Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Alexi Murdoch, Jay Nash, Katy Perry, Joe Purdy, Joshua Radin, Buddy, KT Tunstall, Butch Walker, The Weepies, Dan Wilson, Brian Wright and Rachael Yamagata.

Bianco's band consists of Matt DeMerritt (aka Matty D) on saxophone, piano and flute, Brad Gordon (aka Professor Beeg) on keyboard, trumpet, clarinet and accordion, Kenny Lyon on electric guitar, Jason Pipkin (aka Pip) on drums, Josef Zimmerman (aka Joe EZ) on upright bass.

On March 4, 2008, Bianco's album “Sing” was the first album released on the Hotel Café Records label.

Bianco has said that most of the songs on the album had been composed on the piano in the back room at the Hotel Café after regular club hours.

In 2014, Bianco formed his 12 piece band Forniquette.