Jim began playing professionally in 1965, and has played with some of central Ohio’s most popular bands. He was a founding member and front man for such bands as: the original Gears, the Diplomats, the Lapse of Tyme, Tristram Shandy, the Alligators, the Dick Mackey Band, the Hipnotics and the Lynch Mob. In 1995 Jim founded the band, the JuJu Bees. As the bandleader, lead guitar player, lead singer — and the only member of the JuJu Bees to have performed at every show from the band’s inception to July 4, 2002 — he named the band for a humorous story in his past. Jim has also been an integral member of such bands as: the Dave Workman Blues Band, Tyler, Spittin’ Image and McGuffey Lane, among others. Jim is the first - and as far as we know, the only - guitar player to perform “Hang On Sloopy” with TBDBITL, the Ohio State University Marching Band! Jim has recorded on major labels, played national concerts, and, while with the National Rock Opera Touring Company of Jesus Christ Superstar, toured the world. In California in 1983, STAX recording legends Sam & Dave selected Jim as Lead Guitarist and Bandleader for the Sam & Dave Revue, a position originally held by famed STAX blues man, Steve Cropper. After the death of Dave Prater, Jim remained with The Sam Moore Revue until 1987 as lead guitar player, bandleader and vocalist. Jim is privileged to have worked closely with Twyla Tarpe as co-producer, engineer and guitarist on the recorded soundtrack for the Twyla Tharpe/Mikhail Baryshnikov International Dance Tour which debuted in Columbus, Ohio at the Wexner Center for the Arts in 1993. Jim also enjoys a long time partnership with his close friend, songwriter Charlie Bleak. 1: Put together your fantasy band, dead or alive. That's going to be tough. To me I'd say it would have to be made up of people I have played with over the years, Dave Workman (guitar), Bob Alwood (guitar, vocals), Andy Smith (drums), Kenny Weiss (guitar, vocals), Pat Jeany (bass), Bob Ochsendorf (guitar, vocals), Don Day (guitar, vocals), Jim Stafford (keyboards), Byron Rooker (saxophone) and a name you're not going to know, Sean Leslie (guitar), he's my favorite student. Chris Grays (keyboards), Bill Hawthorn (drums), Kei Watkins (trombone), Dave Miller (trumpet), Brian Coon (saxophone), Rodney Sutton (vocals), Vanessa Jones (vocals), Mandi Gage (vocals), Patti Lach (Vocals), Tia Stewart (vocals), Joseph Moorer (rap/vocals). It's a big band, but it's a fantasy band. 2:What's the best, most exciting concert, music event you've been to? That would be James Brown and B.B. King live at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles in the 1980s. B.B. King sat in with James Brown, which in and of itself was interesting. But then two other people sat in with James at the same time. And that was Prince and Michael Jackson. Hell of a show! 3: What the best (or most important) thing about the music scene in Columbus? We have a diversity and a wideness of of musical talent and it encompasses all styles and people are excited about performing. 4: What's the most important issue (political or otherwise) going on in Columbus? Well it's going on nationwide and that's gun violence. There's needless killing of children in schools. The needless killing of competitors/friends, killing each other on the street. What's the solution? We don't seem to be able to come up with one right now. The solution is for the two sides of the political process to quit fighting each other and try to do some positive things for the United States and everywhere. 5: You've had a remarkable career and certainly must have learned a lot by trial and error. What advice would you give to a young musician just now getting started? What I tell my students is, learn everything you can, all styles. The benefit of that is, you know what everybody's doing any time they're doing it and you're ready for any possible job. The next most important thing is, when you learn from somebody, learn from the originators and work your way down through the imitators. An example of that would be: B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen. Jim Lynch will perform with the Conspiracy Band Friday Jan. 31 at The Social Room, 527 Park Street Columbus