irst of all, let’s talk about the stage-name “Brother Burr & the Black Box Band”: People always ask me about my stage name. Well, it’s like this … in college, my nickname was “Burrhead” (had something to do with my curly / kinky hair I think?). Also, I’m the oldest of (7) non-catholic children, so I have a lot of experience being a brother. And of course, after 26+ years in the high-tech field, I figured out how to use computers, etc. to create the full-band sound you hear when I play (the “Black Box Band”). People tell me my sound is unlike any other “solo” act they’ve heard here in the South Carolina Lowcountry. And the truth is, everything you hear when I play was created by ME (this ain’t your father’s karaoke machine!). So, when I was trying to decide what to call myself, all of this came into it in one way or another. I hope this answers the question ... and beware, I will TEST YOU when I see you at my next show!!

Growing up in Georgia was the beginning of Jim’s historical perspective and was raised by two loving parents. “My folks divorced when I was young, he says, “But both parents played a key role in my upbringing ... as did my grandparents on my mom’s side. The Davidson and Fulcher families were both musically inclined - but it was my mom who provided my greatest inspiration and support. “Mamma-J” was my biggest fan, and was the one who ... in 1968, took me to Augusta and bought me my first acoustic guitar ... which I still own and play today!”

With the exception of his after-college career in the computer business (25+ “short” years), Jim lived either here in the South Carolina Lowcountry, or in his home town of Waynesboro, GA. He remembers making music with an acoustic guitar when I was 12, and adds, “I joined my first rock & roll band (“The Five Transistors”) when I was 13. It was years after that things really took off for me when I got to Georgia Southern College in the early 70’s and began to hang out with some of the great “pickers” from this part of the country. The year was 1972 and the country was still recovering from the war in Vietnam. Music in those days seemed to tell the stories of our time ... and provided us kids with a place to “go” when we wanted to have fun ... or when the “problems” of our time drove us to indulge in rebellious behavior.”

“I remember bands like The Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, Led Zepplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, The Eagles, The Moody Blues, and many others,” says Jim. “And of course, there was Cat Stevens ... an artist whose music I found myself able to sing in a hauntingly similar way. I remember seeing Cat play live one night in Atlanta ... and thinking WOW, it would be awesome to be able to do that!” He was forever “moved” by the music of the time and has, even today, continued to focus his attention on the tunes he grew up listening to ... and trying to play on his old Yamaha FG-140 guitar.

Today, Jim’s music is a collection of old & new ... spanning the generations between college years and today. And with the exception of “rap” (sorry ... he says just can’t go there), his material seems to appeal to folks of all ages. “ With what I’ve learned about technology, He says, ... and how it has impacted the way people make “live” & recorded music today - I think I have somehow found my niche.” In fact, when people hear Brother Burr & the Black Box Band today, their reaction is typically ... “WOW, that’s great, I thought I was hearing a full band play !” That type of feedback confirms for me that I’ve come a LONG way toward accomplishing my goal ... not only in terms of the quality of entertainment I provide, but in terms of my ability to integrate new technologies into the “art” of making music. ”

Here’s a “time lapsed” view of what 25+ years can do to a couple of college pals who played “gigs” at Georgia Southern College back in 1976. Thanks to my lifelong friend & pick’n parther, Phillip Blackmon, for the picture.