About Dr J

James' (a.k.a. "Dr. 'J' s") career in music began at age 5 when his dad took him into a 5 and dime store and bought him a 10 cent plastic recorder. He played "Home on the Range" for his Kindergarten teacher who promptly took him down to the principals office so he could play other favorites. James musical schooling is limited to one year of accordion lessons and High School band, where he played Clarinet and Sax. Most of his learning came through listening Irish music records (that's what was available at home at the time) and learning the songs by ear. In high school he was part of a jazz band playing sax, and put his first album of original pop songs together using a Lowery organ with a drum machine and a tape recorder.

At 19, he answered an add for a wedding band keyboardist auditioning with his accordion. He got the part and spent his life savings ($500) on a keyboard setup. That band became Friends and Strangers which lasted from 1981-90 and helped pay for his college education. He then took a couple of years off from bands where he focused on writing and put out an album of new age music entitled Introspectives. In the mid-90's, he got back together with some of the members of Friends and Strangers to focus on rock originals. That band, Cornerstone, played the bar scene through the rest of the 90's and put out a self-titled CD that got them on the radio in 1996-97. After Cornerstone, James had the pleasure of working with a number of talented musicians in Tongue -n- Groove from 2000-2005. In 2006 he met Katie Jimmerson and formed KT's Alibi which plays regularly in bars in the Detroit area. James happened on the SRB band later that year when South Park Timmy asked him to join the group. Seeing that this talented bunch of guys were cool and liked to have fun he jumped at the chance.

James owes his success to being fortunate enough to be around truly great musicians throughout his career, and the undying support of his wife, Jennifer.

Email Dr J at drj@srbband.com