About Jim
Jim has been singing and playing professionally since the mid 60's. In the early days he was really into all the folk music of the day, like the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary and the Brothers Four. When the English envasion began he started a little rock band with his brother, Tim, and two friends, James and Steve Perkins. They played for the local dances, specializing in the music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (the best name of a band ever!), The Shadows and all the other stuff coming from across the pond by way of the Southern US.
He spent his first two years in college at Ranger College, majoring in music. It was there that Floyd Robertson, who had spent a couple of years at North Texas State, first exposed him to jazz. The great jazz guitarists of the day really got his attention. Guys like Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass were his early favorites. Then the singers...ah, the singers! Billie Holliday, Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong and Sarah Vaughan were his first favorites... and still are!
In 1967 he was drafted into the Army and while stationed in Berlin, was a member of the famous 298th Army Band where he played trumpet and guitar in the dance band. Much was to be learned in those days at the feet of some of the best players he had ever heard and worked with.
Over the years Jim has played country, rock and blues, but he still kept coming back to his real favorite...Love dat jaaazzz!