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“Unknowingly, music was always waiting for me. I’ve always loved it, and I realized the songs I’d written were good enough to share,” continued Sifuentes.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jim Sifuentes celebrates the release of his debut album, Summertime. This genre-blending project weaves together pop-rock, R&B, club rhythms, and nods to Sifuentes’ Mexican heritage. The title track, “Summertime” rises to the top as a seasonal anthem, capturing moments of love, nostalgia, and sun-soaked simplicity. With its introspective tone, breezy folk-rock textures, and soft harmonies, the song channels the spirit of ’60s and ’70s icons like The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel — timeless sounds reimagined.
“‘Summertime’ is about that feeling, for those of us on the East Coast or in the Midwest, when you just can’t wait for summer to hit — because you know once October comes, that cool weather’s right behind it,” shared Sifuentes.
Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 50, Sifuentes faced a string of life-altering setbacks — including losing his job as a hospital executive without explanation and suffering a heart attack just months later. Through it all, one thing kept him grounded: the desire to leave something meaningful behind for his two daughters — a reminder to always pursue life with purpose and excellence.
“Unknowingly, music was always waiting for me. I’ve always loved it, and I realized the songs I’d written were good enough to share,” continued Sifuentes. “So I picked up the guitar and saw just how much music had always been a part of me.”
By November 2024, Sifuentes had completed two songs — a milestone that gave him the confidence to keep writing and developing what would become Summertime. Then, in January of this year, at 61, he began experiencing side pain and was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Doctors gave him two years to live.
“I said, you know what, I’ve come this far — I want to push forward,” said Sifuentes. “I even postponed chemotherapy just to get it done.”
Released on May 16, the album features 12 tracks. “When I first set out to make the album, I only planned on recording 11 songs,” Sifuentes explained. “But one of them — ‘Rumors’ — was a track my brother and I made back in the early ’90s. That was back when I looked like a kid — like I do on the album cover. It also just fit the sound of the album. My daughter loved it too, so I decided to include it. ”
The album cover captures a classic Chicago moment—Jim and his brother Bill in the “Back of the Yards,” the neighborhood near the old stockyards where they grew up listening to artists like Dusty Springfield and The Delfonics. The tight harmonies and lush arrangements of those mid-‘60s to ‘70s R&B acts inspired one of Sifuentes’ singles, “Will You Be Mine,” a tribute to that timeless soul sound. Matt Riggen plays saxophone on the track.
“Matt is a drummer, but he also has a degree in brass, and he really took that song to another level,” Sifuentes enthused. “I also really enjoy ‘Loving You Dear.’ It’s more of a club track, and I think it’s so catchy—especially the riff I came up with.”
The final track on the album, “Yes It’s Me,” is a love letter to Sifuentes’ Latin roots—echoing the sounds of the artists he grew up with, like Juan Gabriel. Coming of age in 1970s Chicago, he absorbed a wide range of influences, including Parliament-Funkadelic and The Beatles, as well as the iconic sounds of Michael Jackson and U2, who left their mark on him in the 1980s.
“In the ’70s, I was really into funk, even though I was still writing songs in the style of The Beatles,” Sifuentes recalled. “You couldn’t help but enjoy McCartney’s basslines.”
That love for the bass ultimately proved to be life-changing. During his freshman year of high school, he was on the verge of getting expelled. So, his mother struck a deal: if he made the honor roll, she’d buy him the iconic Höfner bass—just like Paul McCartney’s. He made the grades, got the bass, and still has it 40 years later.
“Even though it wasn’t the kind of bass people were playing at the time—music had changed—I stuck with it,” Sifuentes explained. “When you listen to players like McCartney or [James] Jamerson, there was always a melody in their basslines. I try to do the same in my music, without overpowering the song.”
Although music has always been part of his life, Sifuentes credits his older brother Bill for teaching him the craft. The two cut their teeth playing the Chicago circuit, so it’s fitting that the current band features Jim on vocals, bass, and keys; Bill on guitar; longtime friend Matt on drums and horns; and their trusted engineer Doug Malone behind the boards.
“Music has always been there—waiting for me to come back to it,” said Sifuentes. “It’s given me a way to capture my feelings and thoughts. While it’s helped me move forward, I think the songs themselves also offer others a space to connect in their own way.”
Fans of Sifuentes and this signature pop-rock sound should keep an eye out for upcoming live performances in August and September, as well as a forthcoming documentary chronicling his life, his return to the stage, and the making of Summertime—currently in development with rising filmmaker Diego Mora. In the meantime, the full Summertime album is available now on all major streaming platforms.
Follow Sifuentes’ journey on social media, where he continues to share his creative path and personal resilience. As he put it: “Until I can’t win, I’m going to keep going.”
