Jim started playing drums in school back when everyone learns an instrument. But his family will tell you that he was always playing a beat on something. At 16 he bought his first drum set and met some other musicians at school, and together started a band. They played all the junior high dances, and a few private parties in high school. In collage Jim started taking music classes, history, theory and the like, while still playing private parties and other gigs, playing with such bands as Omega, Overnight Sensation, Stargazer and Iroquois. In the mid 80's life went in a different direction and Jim sold his drums. During this time Jim learned how to play guitar, and he also took fiddle lessons. Fast forward to present day.
In 2003 Jim once again picked up the sticks and purchased a new set of Pearl drums and started knocking the rust off. While some things came back fast others took a little more effort. After seeing the drums at Jim's home his pastor called one day in a panic needing a fill-in drummer. Jim took the gig and sat in cold. With impeccable timing and slightly rusty chops he pulled off the gig. Next he was asked to become the back up drummer full time for the worship team, and shortly after moved into the main seat.
While playing on the worship team Jim started venturing out and played various jams around town. Finding the Classic Country Jam in Bloomington, Jim soon became the main drummer there too. This was a great skill builder for Jim. Learning to lay down beats to songs you never heard or played before, learning to play with a whole bunch of different players, learning to listen to what other players are playing and not letting other players poor tempo habits drag him off beat.
All the pro's that have played with Jim comment on his tempo and how steady he keeps it. One guitar player even would set his loops to Jim's beat and Jim and the machine remained together throughout the song. The guitar player said he hasn't been able to do that with anyone else. Today Jim still can be found most Saturday mornings playing Classic Country at the Creekside Community Center.
Currently he is playing with the Last Protocol Band billed as the biggest little band you ever heard. Jim also fills in for many of the local country acts. Jim has played with many Mid America Hall of Fame players, like Bill Kelly, Jan Stark, Dale Henry, Big John Voit and many more. Jim has played with Leon Seiter, who wrote and recorded a number of nationally charted country hits in the 60's and 70's. Jim has appeared a number of times on the Country Music Jubilee TV show, which airs in over 100 different cities around the USA. Jim is always trying to learn and improve on his skills. Striving to be a better team player, Jim learned a song to sing with his band and contribute to the show. After hearing him sing, his band mates pushed him to sing more. Taking some voice lessons and learning breathing techniques, his singing has improved and continues to get better. Now he is working on more and more songs and is singing more all the time.
August 2010 Jim met Scott Stroman at the Creekside Jam. After talking, Jim found that Scott was looking for a new drummer. Jim asked for an audition, and Scott called the next day to give Jim a shot at the seat. Jim jammed with Scott and Brian the bass player and had a great time. The decision was made to let Jim play their next gig. So Jim took their song list and started to learn the 50 or so songs they would be playing from a list of about 120. After playing mostly country for the last 5 years Jim had some homework to do, changing genres, and memorizing intros and outros was going to take some real effort. But always wanting to do what is best for the band, Jim started working. The practices went better each time they got together, and they were starting to gel. Jim says " I really enjoy these guys, it seemed like I was playing with long lost family. It was very familar territory to me, maybe that's because it is the same music I played in high school." Well they played the next gig, and it went well, However the decision was made to call back their old drummer so that is the direction they want to go. Stay tuned to see where Jim winds up playing next.
If you are looking for a rock solid beat master, contact Jim for your drumming needs.