Jim Blood has been playing the baritone horn almost non-stop for over sixty years -- and until the LWBB, only played in bass clef!  Music has always played a central role, albeit amateur, in Jim's life.  He was privileged to play in some of the very best bands in U.S. history. 

He played in the Joliet Grade School Band under Charles Peters, the Joliet Township High School band under Bruce Houseknecht, the University of Illinois Band under Mark Hindsley, the Joliet American Legion Band under Archie McAllister, and has been with the Minnesota Symphonic Winds under Mity Johnson and Tim Mahr for almost 25 years.

While at the University of Illinois, Jim remembers some guest conductors of note:  Edwin Franko Goldman, A.A. Harding, and Leopold Stokowski instantly come to mind.  There are many cherished musical memories from those sixty years.

Jim is married to Donna (47 years) and they have four children and seven grandchildren.  Jim's degree was in electrical engineering and he worked for Bendix and Honeywell on missiles, airplanes, torpedoes, and spacecraft. 

Jim was invited to play in the LWBB by LWBB founder David Lars Peterson, and is grateful for the opportunity to play in another terrific band.