Tim Ware

Tim Ware, born on October 26, 1948 in Sacramento, California, emerged as a pivotal figure in the evolution of New Acoustic Music during the late 1970s and early 1980s. After years of intensive study on mandolin and guitar, he assembled the Tim Ware Group, releasing their self‑titled debut on Kaleidoscope Records in 1980. The album showcased a blend of folk, chamber jazz, and intricate mandolin quartets, most famously the piece “Spiral Moons,” which featured guest artists David Grisman, Darol Anger, and Mike Marshall and earned praise from Rosanne Cash in Down Beat. With virtuoso collaborators like Bob Alekno, John Tenney, Sharon O'Connor, and Kenneth Miller, the group defined a fresh acoustic aesthetic that resonated in venues such as the Great American Music Hall and Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Their follow‑up, Shelter From The Norm (1983), continued this trajectory, introducing violinist David Balakrishnan and earning a place on Rounder Records' catalog. Although the original incarnation dissolved in 1985, its legacy persisted, leading to a revived Tim Ware Group v2 that incorporated electric bass, saxophone, and new compositional directions until 1995.

Beyond performance, Ware channeled his creative energy into technology, founding HyperArts Web Design in 1997, a thriving Oakland‑based agency serving clients such as Autodesk, Bare Escentuals, and UC San Francisco. He also became the curator of the internet’s foremost Thomas Pynchon resources, ThomasPynchon.com and PynchonWiki.com, and appeared in a 2000 documentary on the author. In the 2000s, Ware expanded into scoring, earning regional Emmy nominations for his work on Oregon Public Broadcasting documentaries, and contributing music to BBC Radio 4 dramas. Recent projects include a digitally remastered “greatest hits” CD of the Tim Ware Group and a forthcoming surf‑inspired full‑length album, underscoring his enduring commitment to musical innovation.