About Us

James L. Maher

Jim was born on the south side of Chicago in a predominately blue-collar, Irish Catholic neighborhood. He attended and graduated from St. Patricia’s Grade School, which was taught by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. He attended and graduated from St. Laurence O’Toole High School, an all-boys high school taught by The Christian Brothers of Ireland. Jim earned an Associate Degree from Moraine Valley Community College, located in suburban Chicago and graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor’s of arts in philosophy. His master’s of arts degree, also in philosophy, and his juris doctor are both from the University of Montana in Missoula.

Jim got his first drum set in sixth grade and began taking lessons in eighth grade at “Just Music,” on the south side of Chicago. He first studied with Ken Gorski, a well-known local drummer. In high school Jim studied with Irv Honsa at “Bill Crowden’s Drums Unlimited” in downtown Chicago. “Drums Unlimited,” along with “Frank’s Drum Shop,” were the best known and largest drum shops in the Midwest. Jim studied jazz drumming with Peter Fitch, a De Paul University music graduate. Jim also studied with Ron Zeto, a drummer with the popular Chicago band Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah.

Jim’s college band, Time Peace, recorded with producer Gary Loizzo. Loizzo was the lead singer for a Chicago band named The American Breed, who had the number one song in the nation in March of 1968 with a song called “Bend Me Shape Me.” Jim continued to do studio session work throughout college.

Jim began teaching drums in college and has taught consistently from that time forward. Jim has been on the music faculty at Valley Catholic since 1999 and is available for lessons on Saturdays.