An award-winning blues musician and actor, Jim Byrnes’ early career included playing along side of blues greats such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Taj Mahal and Robert Cray. In his 20s he had both of his legs amputated following a car accident — an event that created considerable financial and physical obstacles for a young person just beginning their adult life. Despite this, Mr. Brynes has created an arts and philanthropic legacy that reaches across North America.

In 1986 he was cast as a regular in a CBS television series Wiseguy as a double amputee in a wheelchair working for the FBI. It was ground-breaking in television for an actual disabled person to be cast in a role. He performed at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Paralympics Games in Turin, Italy and represented British Columbia by performing at the BC Police and Fire Games in Adelaide, Australia in 2007 and in Vancouver in 2009.

The list of organizations benefitting from his volunteerism and performances is long:

• The Sunnyhill Hospital
• GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre
• Vancouver Adaptive Music Society
• Vancouver Food Bank. Canuck Place
• Access to Music Society
• AIDS Vancouver
• All Weather Homeless Society
• Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society
• St. James Musical Academy
• First Impressions Theatre
• SEVA, Aunt Leah’s Place
• Challenger Baseball
• Music Heals
• Vancouver School Board, and
• in his native city in the U.S., the St. Louis Variety Club.

Many will recognize him as Scrooge in Bah Humbug, a version of the Christmas classic set in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. Proceeds from this play — well over $8,000 to $10,000 each year — support local groups.

He is a founding member of Face the World, helping to raise funds for many deserving charities; a member of Variety — The Children’s Charity; and is on the board of the Odd Squad Production Society, a charitable organization recognized as a leader in the field of drug and gang education for youth.

For his charitable contributions he has been given the Heart Award from the Vancouver Varity Club and the Champion for Kids award from the St. Louis Variety Club. His musical achievements have been recognized with awards including the Juno multiple Juno — five times. Maple Blues Awards — four times. As well, several Canadian Folk Music Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards. He has been inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.