Jim Messina and his band, The Road Runners, will be on stage at the Performing Arts Center in Nashua on Nov. 23. Courtesy photo/STUART BERG

NASHUA – Jim Messina, a 64-year veteran of the music business, will be on stage with his band, The Road Runners, at the Performing Arts Center on Nov. 23.

Born in 1947, Messina formed his first band, The Boutonnieres, during the summer of 1962 when he was just 13. The group eventually morphed into The Pendletons in the following months. When he was 16, Messina formed surf rock band The Jesters and released “The Dragsters” album in November 1964.

After high school, Messina began working as a recording engineer for folk rock band Buffalo Springfield in 1966 and was ultimately chosen to play bass until the band broke up in 1968.

Later that year, Messina joined forces with Richie Furay, who had also performed with Buffalo Springfield. Together, they formed Poco and made country rock cool.

“It’s all art, it’s all good,” Messina said of genres being fused together. “The cultures tend to cross collateralize.”

He stayed with Poco until October 1970 and returned for the band’s reunion tour in 1989.

By November 1970, Messina had signed with Columbia Records and was given the task of helping a struggling musician make a name for himself. His name was Kenny Loggins.

At the time, Loggins did not have a manager or an agent, he only had Messina.

“My job was to promote him as a solo artist,” said Messina.

Loggins spent the next year recording songs in Messina’s living room. Songs that included two future hits: “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “House at Pooh Corner,” which Loggins wrote when he was a senior in high school.

Messina also introduced Loggins to the fanbase he had established during his years with Buffalo Springfield and Poco.

In November 1971, they released what was intended to be their only album, “Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In.” The album included a remastered version of “House at Pooh Corner.”

“The arrangement really fit the mood of what the song was about,” said Messina.

The album did much better than expected with “House at Pooh Corner” peaking at number 53 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 chart.

Recognizing their success, Columbia Records asked Messina about forming a duo called Messina and Loggins. They ultimately reached an agreement; however, Messina insisted that the pair be known as Loggins and Messina. The soft rock duo stayed together until 1976 releasing eight albums and selling more than 16 million copies.

Messina reunited with Loggins in 2005 and released albums “Loggins & Messina Live – Sittin’ in Again at Santa Barbara Bowl” as well as “The Best: Sittin’ in Again.” He and Loggins would tour for the next four years.

Now 77, Messina has been the frontman of The Road Runners for the past two years and released the “Here, There & Everywhere” album.

Joining Messina are saxophone player Steve Nieves, keyboard player Jim Frazier, bassist Ben King and drummer Jack Bruno.

“These guys came prepared,” he said. “I enjoyed working with these guys. They bring a fresh energy.”

Over the years, Messina has enjoyed the work of blues guitarist Freddie King, country legend Johnny Cash as well as the rock group The Ventures and surf band The Torquays.

“Music is like a drug, all of the sudden your mind just opens up,” he said.