Inspired and encouraged by a friend (whose family owned a baby grand piano two doors up), Jim started piano lessons at age 7. His early attempts at writing short pieces were a distraction to learning classic piano literature. The distraction eventually won the battle. Jim was introduced to multi-track recording by age 12 and purchased his first electric keyboard by age 13 (RMI electric piano - the model that Rick Wakeman played on"Fragile" and"Close to the Edge"). He bought an A.R.P. axxe synthesizer by age 15 and realized that his already questionable pursuit as a classical piano student was completely doomed."...Given the choice to practice Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor - or learn a blistering synthesizer solo by Keith Emerson I would generally choose the latter". Jim was heavily influenced by British prog rockers such as ELP, Yes, Genesis, and other groups like them."Their ability to weave so many different musical elements together was an inspiration for me to explore other genres of music. The jazz fusion movement that was rooted in the early 1960s confirmed that breaking boundaries could create a whole new spectrum of musical colors and rhythms". After 3 years of university music studies, his brief 2 years of professional band experience provided all the proof he ever needed that music can be a cruel mistress."Older and wiser, I have continued to write and record music that expresses an idea, an unusual sensation or mood. I'm just getting started - - the real discoveries are up ahead".