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Jens Ove Jensen ( Jim )
Jens Ove was born in
Haldum, Denmark, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1961 with his family.
Like a lot of kids of his generation, he got turned on to Rock and
Roll by watching the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan show. He
taught himself to play from the “Hard Day’s Night” songbook on his
brother Palle’s guitar, which had been left behind when Palle got
drafted.
In high school, he taught himself to play piano during nutrition
breaks in the choir room. After acquiring a Vox Jaguar organ, he and
his friends Jeff Craig and Wil Davee on drums put together a three
piece group, doing cover versions of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and
Grand Funk Railroad songs.; The band needed a bass player more than
they needed a keyboard player, so since his best friend Jeff was the
better lead guitarist, Jim switched to bass guitar. The band played
many high school parties and dances, but never made much money.
Eventually, Wil quit, joining an accordion player named Frank Theer
in a German music group called “The Barons” which had regular jobs
at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. The Barons lacked a guitar player,
and occasionally would hire either Jim or Jeff to play. Jim’s
brother E.B. would eventually become “The Barons” full time
guitarist. In college and after, Jim joined various Top 40,
Oldies and R & B bands, sometimes as a keyboardist/guitarist,
and JensOve 'Jim' Jensen Bass Guitar sometimes as a bass player. When his old friend Wil and Mike Waddell left the
Barons to form their own German-style band, Jim was hired as the
guitarist. The “M.W. Variety Band” played many German
functions, and this is where Jim’s German repertoire was developed.Jim also has been involved in a number of original music
groups over the years, including Threshold, The Deborah Rose Band,
The Night-Creatures, and his own solo projects under the name
“Project Algebra”. Jim is a prolific songwriter, and has recorded
many songs where he plays all the instruments, and sings all the
vocal parts.Jim joined “The Express” as a second guitarist, filling
in for the ailing Kuki Bahl, but eventually settled back into bass
guitar again because “The Express” needed a bassist more than they
needed a second guitarist. When Kuki passed away, the current
five-man line up was established.