Jim Wearne
Jim Wearne (born 1950) is a Cornish-American singer-songwriter. (The surname is pronounced in one syllable to rhyme with "cairn") Born in St. Louis, Missouri, United states, he was raised in the Chicago area. Early interests in music and theatre led to a desire to become a performer. He learned to play the guitar in his teens, and performed mostly folk music at local venues. He studied theatre at Southern Illinois University, receiving a BS in theatre in 1972. His working career has included many occupations, including stagehand, salesman, meeting coordinator, retailer, and instructor, but his avocation has always been music. His researches into folk music and family history led him to an interest in things Cornish, and Cornish music in particular. He has since written many songs on Cornish themes, and performs these songs and traditional Cornish material at festivals throughout the USA, and in Cornwall. His interest in Cornwall has led to a sympathy with the movement to establish national status for Cornwall within the United Kingdom. His song This Isn't England includes the lyric "This isn't England, you stupid twit!" Wearne is notable as one of only two known exclusive proponents/performers of Cornish music in North America (the