James and Kathy

We are Christian singer/songwriters and guitar players. James also plays harmonica, bass guitar, piano, banjo and dobro. Our desire is to honor Jesus Christ.

JAMES James took piano lessons when he was a boy. He wasnt fond of practicing, but his teacher was a jolly soul. He hated recitals because he bumbled across the wrong key with his clammy fingers. But during practice he could play the song flawlessly! As a teenager James taught himself to play the guitar and began writing songs. Before long he was the leader and singer/songwriter of his own band. His friend played bass guitar. Another friend played guitar. His brother played the trombone and sang harmony. James also played second trumpet in the school band and, later, an electric bass guitar. Who needs a tuba? He must have been one of the first to play bass guitar in a school band. It was definitely a novelty at the time. No other school he knew of had a bass guitar in the band. At James' high school they even had someone playing electric lead guitar and another guy playing a trap set in the school band. They played seventeen minute long In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly in its entirety! The band's drummer knocked out the extended drum solo without missing a beat! Other schools were surprised at basketball games when they played songs like this and other rock songs they just heard on the radio. KATHY Kathy grew up in a family that loved music. Her grandmother played piano. Her grandfather did Vaudeville, singing popular songs; playing harmonica and the ukulele. One of her brothers learned to play the drums. Kathy would sit in front of his big bass drum to keep it from sliding across the wood floor while he played. Her brother formed a band when he was about 15 years old and they often practiced in the family's living room. At only 9 years old Kathy was already deeply influenced by the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, The Animals, The Lovin' Spoonful, Cream, Bob Dylan, Donovan and other famous rock and roll bands of the 60s. By age 15 Kathy taught herself how to play the guitar. At this time she also began writing her own songs which she would play for her friends. Kathy taught herself how to read music and began teaching guitar in her twenties. She enjoys playing solo finger-style and classical guitar. But most of all, she enjoys writing and playing her own songs and, of course, collaborating on joint musical compositions with her husband James.

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