Jimmy Harnen

Jimmy Harnen worked through the ranks of the music industry, from scruffy Plymouth drummer to one of the most popular record label executives in the United States. In between, he collaborated with industry legends from Luzerne County and across the world. And by the way, he was the voice behind one of the biggest hits to ever emerge from the Wyoming Valley. In short, Jimmy Harnen has done a little bit of everything at the highest level.

From an early age, Harnen was fascinated by the music business. He loved the songs, of course, from artists like Hall & Oates, Toto, Chicago and the Beatles. His interest in music was inflamed due to the rise of the Buoys and Dakota, related bands that had hit the big time after starting off in Luzerne County. That being said, Harnen’s real intrigue was within the liner notes. He was enthralled by the producers, engineers and executives that made the records possible.

The first band Harnen was a member of was the Wyoming Valley West marching band, but many will remember the group that launched him into the world of pop music: Synch. Harnen sat behind the drum kit during his time with Synch, while the usual vocal duties were placed with frontman Lou Butwin. However, Harnen was given the lead vocal role on a song he had co-written, a classic ‘80s power ballad called “Where Are You Now.”

The original 1986 recording of “Where Are You Now” caught on, receiving airplay in Luzerne County that eventually led to a record deal with Columbia. When Synch went into the studio to record their first album, …Get the Feelin’, that same year, “Where Are You Now” was re-recorded, this time with an assist from former members of the Buoys.

Though a talented musician, Harnen was still in an executive’s state of mind when Synch hit the studio. He found himself picking the brains of studio employees and learning the behind-the-scenes processes that went into record production. This was an important time for Harnen, who gained valuable insights about what it takes to craft a hit in front of and behind the studio glass.

By 1989, three years after “Where Are You Now” was originally recorded, Synch was disbanded and their most famous song had long been dropped from the standard radio rotation. But by coincidence, “Where Are You Now” had a massive resurgence and Harnen was back in the spotlight. This time, the song reached number 10 on the US Billboard charts, a peak that gave Harnen’s career a huge boost.

Despite the massive wave of public support for “Where Are You Now,” Harnen’s recording career slowed down and his career in the music industry crept behind the scenes. He moved to Nashville, long a hub for some of America’s most musically talented people, and quietly rose through the industry as an executive. He eventually became the senior vice president of promotion for the iconic Capitol Records label.

As an executive, Harnen happily watched the artists he helped promote rise to incredible heights. In 2009, Harnen left Capitol Records to become the president of Republic Nashville Artists, now BMLG Records. There, he has overseen the careers of Florida Georgia Line, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, and a number of the 21st century’s most popular country and pop artists.

The artists Harnen has signed over the years have recognized his positive attitude towards the creative process. His down-to-earth persona and background as a musician have helped Harnen stand out in a crowd of suits. Harnen himself has attributed much of his success to a Luzerne County upbringing. Using his musical youth in Plymouth as a springboard, Jimmy Harnen has been a relevant entertainment figure for his entire adult life.