Jim Matt

Country singer/songwriter Jim Matt was born January 18, 1964 in the remote town of Englehart, Ontario; the second of 11 children, as a youngster he was influenced by the music of Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Dolly Parton, and at age six began singing with his family group at local house parties and school events. By his mid-teens he was writing songs and performing extensively at area dances, and after graduating high school Matt turned to playing the local club circuit. He later toured in a duo alongside his wife Heather. His big break came when two of his compositions were recorded by singer Mike Peters on a 1991 solo LP; that same year, Matt also cut his debut single, "Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs and Me." A demo of his music eventually made its way to producer Pete Anderson, and in 1993 Matt signed to Anderson's Little Dog label, issuing his debut LP All My Wild Oats two years later.