About James Douglas

Hello!  My name is Jimmy, and I am the Manager here at the Music & Arts in Itasca.  I started playing guitar about 34 years ago, taking lessons from my Dad.  A few years after I started, I played in the Peacock Junior High Jazz Band for three years under Director Tim Loest right here in town!  In my teen years, my love of rock n' roll led me to start playing in original bands.  From the late '90s through the mid-2000's. I played with several bands based in Chicago, playing clubs and theaters in the Midwest.  In 2007, I moved to Los Angeles, CA, where I attended Musician's Institute in Hollywood and earned an Associate's Degree in Guitar Performance.  After playing in the L.A. music scene for eight years, I made the move back to Chicago.  After working for Guitar Center for seventeen-plus years, I joined the Music & Arts team in September 2021.  The staff here is great, and we're developing a wonderful musical community!  Whether you are looking to start playing an instrument or have been playing for decades, please give us a visit!