For singer-songwriter Charlie Imes, the road to his 2008 debut album “On An Island” was longer than most. Nearly four decades after he began performing, Imes’ first disc earned him a 2009 San Diego Music Award nomination for “Best Americana Album,” with guest appearances from such notables as guitarist Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos (Diana Krall) and alternative folk singer Cindy Lee Berryhill. Like other artists, life and work had gotten in the way of Imes’ pursuit of musical dreams. However, it wasn’t until recovery from a major health scare in 2007 that everything began to fall into place for his music. Born in California, Imes, who performs at Winston’s on March 18, arrived in San Diego following a stay in Arizona around 1984. “I spent a couple of years living in the Phoenix area,” he said. “It was fun and there was miles of beach, but it just lacked a certain … ocean,” he joked. “When I decided to move back to California, my sister-in-law told me that she could get me a job at her law firm in San Diego.  It all sounded good to me.” Call it fate or luck, his first boss in San Diego would later turn out to be one of the most successful singer-songwriters in town, Calman Hart, though this was before he started releasing CDs or joined Jeff Berkley to form Berkley Hart.   His earliest musical influences are the same as many other musicians. “Well, the Beatles got me to pick up a tennis racket when I was a kid and pretend I was playing,” Imes said.  “Then John Denver, Jim Croce and particularly James Taylor. Those were the guys that inspired me to learn how to write songs. “However, everybody in my family was musical,” he said.  “My sister’s a great singer, I had a brother who was a great drummer and the others dabbled in guitar or piano.” Post tennis racket, Imes said he gravitated to horns. “I started on trumpet, but moved to guitar because I thought it would be easier to get girls, naturally,” he said.   The initial reason for Imes’ lack of recording came down to funding. “I could never afford to record an album like the one I heard in my head,” Imes said. By 1990, work took precedent over music.  “I started my own business doing support services for attorneys. I was spending a lot of time trying to make that business work, so I took a hiatus and I quit playing live shows for a while,” Imes said. Health issues would prolong his return to performing. “In 2001, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, resulting in surgery and a long fight back to health,” Imes said. “Then, in 2006, I got sick again and had some more surgery. When I came out of it all, friends were saying, ‘When are you going to do your album?’”   The recording of “On An Island” soon became his focus. “The cancer and other serious surgeries got me over the idea that I had to have a regular job,” Imes said. “Life is too short not to be doing what we love. I got over my shyness about playing my music with other musicians, especially with musicians that I look up to.  I was able to let go and quit worrying about whether I was good enough.” Imes notes his brother, Rod, the drummer, was a big help during that time.   “We kept in regular touch during the recording of the album, and I would play the tracks we were working on,” Imes said. “He was key in building my confidence in the material and the album.”   Rod Imes passed away shortly after “On An Island” was released. “I’m pleased that he got to hear the album for a couple of weeks before he passed,” Charlie said. “His friends told me how much he loved the CD and how proud he was.  It doesn’t ease the sting of his loss, but it’s something I’ll always be grateful for. “Bottom line, life is too short,” he said. “Love big.  Play often.  If I never record another album, at least I made the album I had always wanted to. But I really want to make another album.” Though now a veteran musican, Imes considers himself to be finally hitting his stride. “I’m having more fun now than I did when I was younger and was hung up on what I was wearing or some other small stuff.  My playing is better too,” Imes said. “I’ve learned how to let go and enjoy the ride much more. ” Charlie Imes appears at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18. No cover charge. For information, visit www.myspace.com/-charlieimes.