Jim began playing drums at the tender age of 20. He and his friends had always LOVED music but were too involved in sports to really take up an instrument. It started when him and his friends had the wild idea one day to "start" a band.He chose drums right away as he had always been attracted to that instrument any way. Those early years of  playing music with his friends started off a life long love of being in a band.  

After practicing 2 or 3 times a week for about 6 months, the band started getting gigs in the area. They all got hooked and put the band before almost everything else in their life.This 1st band was called "Nitro and it consisted of members Steve and Stuart "Dave" Whiting, John Hernan, Mark Viera, Dorothy Sardinah, and Jeff LaBadie. After playing together for over 3 years and countless changes, the band stopped playing.Jim then hooked back up with the Whiting brothers and Stuart "Dave" Whiting had a friend named Ken Carmassi that was a singer and guitar player and so a new band "Plain Shame" was formed .Plain Shame played countless clubs, weddings, and parties over the next 4 years. After getting married and having 2 children, Jim stopped playing for about 3 years. Then when he got the "bug" again he hooked up with former band mates Steve and Stuart "Dave" Whiting and again started playing gigs and going through more band mates.After the Whiting brothers departure to Sacramento Jim started up a new band called "Route 66" and he then (eventually) found today's lineup and about 3 months ago the band decided to change their name to

"Souncheck".  Soundcheck has been a band for over 10 years with Brad Kelley, Robert Blecha and Jim Ballard being the core of the band. Now adding Brian Valadez the band is set and keeps playing on!!!!!!