Jim Lopina
;)
How could you not love music growing up listening and grooving out to 'Whipped Cream', the quintessental Herb Alpert album on family stereo? I started with classical piano lessons when I was about seven years old from Wauwatosa legend Virginia Kissinger, whose large presence was both terrifying and inspiring. I was digging the fugal arrangements of the baroque and classical artists, and soon found myself trying to figure out Scott Joplin and old time rag music.
During grade school, I started building the record collection. I started getting into Jazz and fusion in high school, as well as blues, bluegrass, ska, reggae, punk, new wave, oldies, and jam rock. Countless hours were spent recording cassette 'mix' tapes.
I studied harpsichord, music theory, and jazz piano as a music minor at Loyola of New Orleans, and made the cut to be a part of the university's Chorale, culminating with a short tour of Germany and Austria during the coldest damn winter in the 80s. On weekends and slow nights I filled in as the production director at the college radio station and at WRNO. Eventually I had my Wurlitzer electric piano and Kustom amps shipped down so I could join the 'Uncle Jam' band and formed a short lived 'James and the Spore Addicts' ensemble.
In the 1990's family and career took precedence but it was until the next decade however that someone at a church event suggested that I join the contemporary choir. After several months of patience, practice, and vocal tuning, I got the singing bug for all things sacred and secular!. It wasn't long after that I met Dick Phalen, and the rest is history, and I am looking forward to continue to grow the band, setting our sites a little higher each time. And finally, I am so grateful to be surrounded by such great family, friends, and musicians!
Influences
All of the Artists we currently perform, especially Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton (and all his bands), C.C.R., The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Santana.
Other Major Influences - Little Feat, Steely Dan, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Jeff Lorber, Chick Corea, Talking Heads, David Bowie, The English Beat, Steel Pulse, Pinetop Perkins, James Booker, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, Gene Harris, Monty Alexander, Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darrin, and Steve & Edie..., etc.,
New Stuff I Like and/or Currently Listening To - Northern Mississippi All Stars, Spoon, Los Lonely Boys, Austin De Lone, Loius Prima, Cake, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bobby Darin, ALO, and the list goes on and on!!!!