Jim Yackel began playing nightclubs on the “Thruway Circuit” in upstate New York in 1980. The bands and the personnel were in a perpetual state of flux; however Jim’s Beatles influenced pop-rock writing style remained as his trademark. After years of pursuing the elusive recording contract, Yackel and his band Groovetown Fire Department independently released a CD in 1994. GFD did not last long after its lone recording venture, which prompted Yackel to go solo in 1996. In 1998, Jim Yackel retired from making music, believing that his exodus from music would be permanent. What he knows now and didn’t know then was that the period away from music was but a temporary one. More accurately, Jim’s “retirement” was a change of season and a time for restoration, which would lead him to being born again through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave him life everlasting and a new purpose in music making. Circa 2005, the Holy Spirit prompted him to become active again in music, which led to the 2007 release of his first Christian-Rock CD, titled "AGAPE’". The influence of the Beatles could be heard in the melodies and chord changes- particularly in songs like We Are The Church, but the lyrics spoke of Jesus, His free gift of salvation, and His soon return. In late 2008, Yackel was joined by a colorful individual named Mike Case. Case had already played with Yackel on several occasions acoustically, as well as having done photography and artwork for The ROCK Music Ministry in the past. Thus, Jim Yackel & Company was born! After much time spent in the studio and on the road (not to mention the Holy Spirit’s additional prompting), the beginnings of a new album started to take shape. This was the "So Very Soon" e.p. which was released in June of 2009. The Beatles influence in So Very Soon was still apparent, but it branched out with more of a contemporary pop-rock feel as well as several crossovers such as Talking To An Angel and Land of Oz. Enjoy this acoustic version of "The Wayfarers" by Jim Yackel and Company. Lord willing, this song is but merely a prelude to a complete soundtrack to accompany Jim's currently available fiction book trilogy "The Wayfarers."