| Jim Couza | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Date: | 27 April 1945 |
| Birth Place: | New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States |
| Death Place: | England |
| Genre: | Folk music |
| Occupation: | Instrumentalist |
| Instrument: | Hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer, guitar, banjo |
| Associated Acts: | D'Uberville Ramblers, Björk, Peter Gabriel, Jim Fox |
Jim Couza (April 27, 1945 – August 2, 2009)[1] was an American hammered dulcimer player.
He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States,[2]
Couza was one of the early musicians at Tryworks Coffeehouse in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In those days he played a well used, but good sounding Gibson guitar, and a banjo, and sang mostly British Isles music with a distinctive voice. He was living in Acushnet, Massachusetts in the early 1970s, which was when he started to play the hammer dulcimer.[2]
He became a resident in England in 1982.[2] In addition to the hammered dulcimer, Couza also played Appalachian dulcimer and guitar. He made several recordings, both solo and with the D'Uberville Ramblers.[2] He also worked with Björk on the album Post,[3] and with Peter Gabriel on his album, OVO.[4] (Couza was featured on a track called "The Time Of The Turning (reprise) / Weavers Reel"). He also worked with Celtic singer-songwriter Jim Fox, performing at many venues and festivals around the UK. Couza suffered a number of health problems in his later years, resulting in amputation of both his legs.
Jim Couza died in August 2009 in England, at the age of 64.[1]