Jim Basnight is a Seattle-based rock musician who began recording in the late 1970s, leading a pre-grunge rock scene before relocating to New York in 1980. He gained critical acclaim with The Moberlys and later reformed the band, moving between Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles while working with notable producers, including REM’s Peter Buck. Despite signing with EMI-America, the Moberlys disbanded in 1989, leading Basnight to release solo and compilation albums through various labels in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

In the 1990s and 2000s, he performed with the Rockinghams and the Jim Basnight Band, touring extensively in the Northwest. He also co-composed the musical Little Rock and worked as a sports journalist for outlets like The Seattle Times and ESPN. Since 2012, he has been researching blues icon Sonny Boy Williamson and has continued releasing music, including Not Changing (2019) and Jokers, Idols and Misfits (2020-2021).

Basnight has performed with legendary acts such as the Ramones, the Police, and Billy Idol and has collaborated with members of Blondie, Guns N’ Roses, and Nirvana. In 2022, his song “Stop the Words” was named “Coolest Song in the World” by Little Steven’s Underground Garage (Sirius XM), and he was nominated for a Radio-WIGWAM (UK) award. As of 2023, he is working on a new album and has completed a biography on Sonny Boy Williamson.