Happy Valley Music Series: Jim Messina with special guest Pure Prairie League

State College (Tussey Mountain) - July 22, 2024 - Rich Engler proudly presents Jim Messina and his band on Sunday July 28th at Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre. The show begins at 3 p.m. EST. Also starring on the same show is Pure Prairie League. Presented in part with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. To purchase tickets, please visit the event website by clicking the button below.

Jim Messina

Jim Messina has played with Loggins and Messina, Poco and Buffalo Springfield throughout his career. Few musical artists résumés list membership in a band inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; fewer still can lay claim to being a founding member of the seminal band credited with creating Country Rock; and only one artist can include all the above in addition to being one half of the most successful duos of the 1970s. A supremely talented guitarist, Jim Messina began working with the legendary band Buffalo Springfield in 1966 as a recording engineer on their second album Buffalo Springfield Again. In 1967, at the request of the group and Atlantic Records founder and president Ahmet Ertegun, Messina was asked to produce the band’s third and final album. Shortly thereafter, he replaced Bruce Palmer, the bass player, touring and recording with the band up until completion and release of their album Last Time Around. In 1968 Jim joined Poco and then in 1970 he teamed up with Kenny Loggins to form Loggins and Messina who had several hits during their relationship like “Your Mama Don’t Dance”, “Angy Eyes” and “Danny’s Song”.

Pure Prairie League

From their beginnings of Pure Prairie League in mid-60’s Southern Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to the present-day unit featuring founding member/innovative pedal steel guitarist John David Call, propulsive drummer/vocalist Scott Thompson, keyboard master/vocalist Randy Harper and featuring new members Jared Camic on bass and vocals, plus ace guitarist/vocalist Jeff Zona, Pure Prairie League continues to embellish the rich history of one of Country-Rock’s pioneering forces for over 50 years. As one reviewer recently wrote: “PPL’s trademark sound combines sweet memories with edgy contemporary muscle. Their vocals are as strong as Kentucky moonshine and the musicianship and performance skills are as sharp as a straight-razor.” Their many hits include “Amie”, “Two Lane Highway” and “Let Me Love Your Tonight”.