The Village Squire, 1981-09, Page 7To begin to know Jim Hagarty is to understand two things. He is
a testament to the oft -told, seldom -seen notion of the resiliency of
the human spirit, and he is the antithesis of today's modern,
materialistic and upwardly mobile man.
That's the singer -songwriter Hagarty, to a great extent because
of what he learned six years ago in a deeply -frightening personal
experience. It taught him much - about himself, about people, and
especially about music - and it is his intent to share that knowledge
through his profession.
He waits until late in the discussion to reveal his personal
drama. "The other night I went to a psychiatric hospital and
played for an hour for the inmates," he explains in his quiet
manner. "As soon as I started playing, it became quiet. I'm not
sure what music does. but a person's thoughts seem to come
together."
For Hagarty, that is not groundless speculation. "1 spent three
months in a psychiatric hospital," he continues, describing his
committal because of suicidal tendencies and depression. "When
For that reason, he has certain criteria for what music and
musicians should be. He thinks, for instance, it is wrong that
entertainers are often idolized. Further, he says since he was a
teenager (he is thirty now) he has had contempt for those who
write obscure lyrics. In his songs, his goal is to keep the message
simple and clear.
"Music is supposed to be enjoyed, first and last," he explains.
"I don't believe there's anything magical about music, I think it's
inside everybody." For Hagarty, having to work at enjoying music
risks the loss of its soothing appeal.
And so, even though Ain't It Funny, his first album, is
highlighted by strong country and western overtones. the singer
refuses to be musically typecast. The labelling narrowly defines
the audience, something Hagarty resists because of his
philosophy. Instead, he stresses that his stage presentations
consist of everything from jazz through country, folk and even
Irish folk tunes )"The only requirement for me is whether I like the
song," he says). and that is also why his second album, expected
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I was there the other night, 1 told the inmates I had been in one of
these joints myself, and 1 didn't think I'd get out, but I did, and I
couldn't be happier.
"What really tickles me now is the nurses on that floor have the
album and they're showing it to patients saying 'This guy was in
here'," he adds, notably pleased by the reception his recent and
first album is receiving. "When I went in there, there was a
possibility I'd never get out, and now there is some satisfaction, in
knowing the album is being used like that. I know what music is
to me. It's a sedative, and when 1 play and 1 see people relaxing, I
think that's great. Always on my mind when I play is whether
somebody is going to hear this. I'm careful with the words. People
are going to hear it, and 1 want it to be pleasing to them."
More than anything, Hagarty's intent is to share music. Call
him music's equivalent of the story teller, rather than an
entertainer or performer, a member of the crowd instead of
beyond it.
out later this year, will see a shift in style from country to folk. If he
will consent to any classification at all, it is as a folk singer. It does
seem to suit.
As much as Hagarty contends the musician must be true and
honest with those who hear him so, too must he be with himself.
"One of the things 1 see so many people doing. like myself. is
not thinking, when all they'd have to do is take the time to ask
themselves, 'Why am 1 doing what I'm doing? I,- this my choice. or
is it somebody else's? If you're not. you re not giving to the world
what you can do," he concludes.
"The successful musicians to date have done things in their
own way," he adds. "They just don't follow the normal way of
doing things." It is for that reason. when Hagarty visited a music
agent in London before the first album was released and was told
"this is the way of doing things to be successful in music," the
singer went home and said to himself" well, that's not the way 1
want to do things. (con't on page 26)
VILLAGE SQUIRE /SEPTEMBER 1981 PG. 5