By day, he works in the financial field, but by night he sings, writes songs, and sings some more.

On the weekends, and to borrow a phrase from the Moody Blues, he’s just a singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band.

He loves music because it makes him happy.

Period.

Jim Cheronis has released his new album “Back Home."

There is no other reason.

Talk with him about music, see a smile forming on his face, and share the passion of his emotions.

Listen to him sing, and hear the passion in his voice.

Jim’s wife said music is an avenue to let out his frustrations.

“And that’s the best way to get it (frustration) out is through music,” Jim recalled.

Music is in Jim’s heart, and he hopes it will continue to reside there for the rest of his life.

“If I could do one thing for the rest of my life, it would be to sing, and to practice singing, and to exercise so I can sing better, and then after that, just to sing some more,” Jim said “That’s what I wish I could do all the time.”

Having sung for other people, but not singing for himself, gave Jim the notion to release his own album of original songs – “Back Home.”

Rewind (pun intended), and Jim will tell you that in his younger years in Warren, Pa., he was trying to find himself. But in the course of trying to find himself, music found him. He had graduated from Warren Area High School and figured out that being in college wasn’t for him at that time.

So he pivoted, and enlisted into the Army.

“When I served in the U.S. Army, I had a band, Lazarus, that won the U.S. Army Battle of the Bands while playing all original music,” Cheronis admitted on his website. “My bandmates and I were slated to be removed from our regular military jobs, and to instead work exclusively as full time musicians touring Army bases in the U.S., and in the European Theatre.”

So now, press the fast forward button.

“I’ve been a singer, songwriter and performer with various local and regional projects, and I currently perform and record with Blue Morning, a Foreigner tribute band,” Jim said. “But as much as I love doing what I’m doing, I regret never having done a project for myself…until now. I tapped into the inspiration I experienced during my military service, when writing and performing heartfelt songs that blend blues, rock, and power ballads.”

When writing songs, Jim said he can tell a story while doing his favorite thing – singing, but it needs a melody.

“And so I’m listening to this music to see how it fits. I’ll like a song or dismiss it based on the melody. Like the guitars could be great, the drums could be great, (and) everything could be great. But if the singer isn’t captivating me with a really cool melody and a really cool hook, I’m not interested,” Jim said.

“Back Home” is a personal tribute to his life and his journey.

“The tracks capture the essence of what was started at the beginning, and what new music was created along the way,” Jim said.

For more information on “Back Home” visit jamescheronis.com.