Jim Evans

Born in Windsor, Ontario Canada, Jim Evans was introduced to the guitar in 1967 at the age of 5. Ever since, Jim has been obsessed with the tonal effects the “soul of the guitar could bring out”. He played guitar with an accordion and drummer for children’s Banquets and various house parties. At age 10, he finished grade 4 Standard Guitar in two and a half months which was taught by Jazz great Gordie Taylor.

Jim moved to Thunder Bay at the age of 13 with his Father and Stepmother for a year. At 14 he moved to Lynn Lake, Manitoba and worked the summer as a cook’s helper. He then moved to Pinehouse, Saskatchewan, a Native Indian community, where his father taught school and his stepmother ran the local health clinic.

Jim started recording rhythm tracks at age 14 and began to build guitars and make shift amps. Moving back to Windsor to stay with his Mother, he attended W.D. Lowe for 1977 where he started playing in various bands, was introduced into rock and bought his first Fender twin amp. (“Very Loud”) In 1976 he was introduced to Fiddle and Jig music which he still enjoys playing today.

Jim moved back to Pinehouse, Saskatchewan and lived with his father until the age of 17. His father moved back to Ontario and Jim decided to stay and live with the Cree Indians. Working for the Fisheries and doing construction jobs, he put himself through a truck driver training course and graduated as the youngest to become licensed at the age of 17. Jim continued to work with heavy equipment in Northern Saskatchewan and loved the isolation and beauty of the North.

Driving transport at 17 years old, on weekends Jim would play guitar in a homegrown country pop band, traveling from town to town in Northern Saskatchewan.. At 21 he moved to Green Lake Sask., then to Meadow lake where he played with a rock band and toured in western provinces while attending college (heavy duty mechanic) At 23, moving to Prince Albert, Jim played heavy rock and pop, then back to his hometown of Windsor, Ontario he played rock metal and began classical training.

In 1985, Jim joined City Beat (Motown R & B) and played local towns and started recording fine line productions. He did all the arrangements and engineered the sound. He appeared on cable and radio May 1985 for the African Relief Fund.

Jim continued writing and arranging musical works by himself. In 1985 he had a small studio where dance mixes were held and some work with a drummer developed. Later newly formed Talon was born and was Hard Rock with its own style.. lots of tunes but no venue wanted a new face but only wanted covers to fill the bars, later fizzled and moved on..

In 1990 Jim moved to Kitchener, Ontario and began renting studio space out to bands for rehearsal. Later he started a studio to promote local talent which was aired at University and New local Alternative stations. He has produced and engineered for some local band’s albums and began a project with some known musicians.

In the late 80/90's, while recording and producing music for bands, television and radio commercials, he was exposed to computers; he immediately became intrigued with all they could do. "Something in me sparked and I knew I wanted to pursue this device. I could expand on my ability and move beyond just music". In 1990, he attended a private college for several years, obtained a computer technologist and business administration diploma and began laying the foundation for YSC Systems, a computer IT based manufacturer and distributor.

In a one-room apartment, Jim built computers, as well as renting and leasing them to University students. In 1993, he traveled to Taiwan in search of superior products.

During the 90s Jim was president and CEO of YSC Systems, a successful computer wholesale, research and system integration company. He had an I.P.O. office in Taiwan where goods and information were traded. He spent several months there working with the Intel Development Group, Acer Development Group in Taipei, UMC and Award BIOS. He worked with the development team that introduced the 486 DX4 chips in 1993.

In 1999 the Montreal office was created to support the VAR/integrator channel in Quebec and YSC Systems began exporting to the United States and Saudi Arabia. Approximately 80% of the revenue derived from the Canadian market and international sales made up the remainder. High tech consultants made up 60% of the sales, VAR and integrators were responsible for 30%, and retail and resellers made up the rest. YSC was a one-stop supplier of premium computers, products and services. In the seven years it has operated, YSC had achieved a good name in Canada and had achieved globalization.

Despite being a loner who doesn't consider himself to be a people person, Evans says he worked well with customers and his employees. "I never give up and nothing can stop me from getting through a problem" he said with a smile.

That applied to his life away from the job as well. It took Jim three years to record an album of guitar and instrumental pieces geared toward the film industry. The album consisted of original music composed and played by Jim on guitar, keyboard and a Chinese Zither. His good friend and personal engineer, Lloyd Walker, went through archives of small instrumental pieces Jim had created over the years and compiled instrumental pieces geared towards the art and film industries. Together they chose the more interesting selections and developed a theme. Professional musicians such as percussionists and sax players, with Walker on drums and console, all contributed their expertise. YSC workstations were used in the studio. (Throughout the life of YSC Systems, Jim had developed, perfected and furnished musicians and studios with his computer workstations and recording technology)

For Jim, music has been a passion since the age of 5 and one he will never give up. Growing up he had no idea that his love of music would eventually lead to his running a successful computer company. While he moved up in the world since his days as a lumberjack and truck driver, he still has the music in him.

Jim closed YSC Systems in 2001 and has since been concentrating on his IT skills and part time musical career. He is an accomplished composer and engineer who has helped produced a number of Canadian independent artists and is currently recording his newest CD for release in the summer of 2008. Jim has performed at numerous corporate and media events over the past years and has developed musical themes for product launches and award shows as well as designing entertainment programs for Corporate events. An evening playing solo guitar for Sophia Loren at the Windsor Arms a memorable event.

Living and enjoying the country life in the Village of Ayr, Ontario, Jim has his own recording studio where he is focused on recording his music. He’s back at it with gusto and once again “nothing but perfection will do”

Corporate & Special Events

For information and/or comments on Jim Evans or to confirm booking information for corporate, private or media events, please contact Jim Evans or email your questions and/or requests with event dates, venues and performance requests to dude@guitarworld.ca

Instrumentation Jim Evans: all Guitars, Zither, Programming, Keys

Discography LP: Tradeinws 2001