The Goddess of Groove
By Mad Royal

Sometimes we look at someone and say he or she is a “natural” at something: painting, working with animals, musical ability. While it is true that talent cannot be learned, it is also true that most of the people who seem natural at something put in long hours of practice and study. Many people think musicians have the easy life, as in Dire Straits’ song, “Money for Nothing”. The fact is that most musicians work very hard at their craft for little monetary gain. Case in point is “Burning” James Scoolis, who practices one to two hours a day honing his craft, and takes voice lessons, to boot.
Born in Cleveland in 1957, James spent a lot of time at his father’s diner, which was known for fried chicken. Cleveland was segregated at the time, and one side of a street could be “white”, the other “black.” Neighborhoods could change in a day. Such was the case with the diner, which was purchased in a white neighborhood shortly before it “changed color.” James’ family decided to stay, and James grew up mopping floors, bussing tables, washing dishes, and cooking chicken at the diner, Pudgee’s. One great benefit of employment, besides learning a good work ethic, James could raid the jukebox. Since the diner’s clientele was mostly African-American, the jukebox was changed every two weeks with music by Johnny Lee Hooker, the Temptations, and the like. Young Jim would take the used records home, which were usually 45 rpm but sometimes LPs. He was exposed to a lot of music he may not have discovered otherwise.
When James was about 14, all his friends would pick up guitars and start playing the music they heard on the radio. The Who, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix were some of Jim’s favorites. Jim himself started on the trumpet. “I was terrible.” He said.
He had a guitar himself, but his mother, a Greek immigrant, got mad at him one day and smashed it, breaking off the back. Many of his friends got quite good with practice, and three years later, Jim traded the old trumpet for another guitar. He took some lessons here and there, but was largely self-taught.
When James was 19, his whole family, which includes three younger sisters, moved to Los Angeles. Jim focused on studying to be an educator, as he realized it would be tough making a living in music. He studied at UC Santa Barbara, where he studied psychology and sociology. He got a Neil Young music book, which helped him learn guitar chords from the charts inside. He was intrigued by Eric Clapton, who he found was influenced by Muddy Waters and B.B. King, who were influenced by Robert Johnson, and in studying their music, he followed it back to its roots. “It was all quite mysterious to me how it was done.”
Later James met musician Jay Kier in Santa Barbara, and along with Mitch Kashmar on harmonica, they formed the Blind Lemons Blues Band.
In 1984, one of James’ friends called him and said, “Hey! I’m making $25,000 a year teaching 5th grade in South Central. You should come get a job here, too.”  And so James became an educator. Eventually, he went back to get his Masters, and in 1993 he moved to San Luis Obispo to become the principal at Charles Teach Elementary, and later at Monarch Grove, a job he recently retired from. During that time, he raised his two boys, and coached basketball. He also oversaw the elementary school music program, including the purchase of $17,000 worth of guitars used in every elementary school in the district.
In 2000, he earned a doctorate from USC, and formed the House Red Band, which he was in for 7 or 8 years. They played mostly R&B and soul. In 2010, he met drummer Rick Pittman at the Blues Masters Jam at the now defunct Clubhouse in SLO. Rick showed him that what he considered the “holy grail” of music could be reproduced successfully in a band, which was the music of James Brown. Rick himself has performed with B.B. King and many of the legendary performers. Eventually, along with Rick, Scott Andrews on saxophone and Chaz Matisse on bass, Burning James and the Funky Flames was born. Terry Lawless has been in and out of the band, on keyboards, saxophone and flute. Terry, as you may know, tours with U2 and Pink.
The lineup of Burning James and the Funky Flames has changed over the last year, with Billy Baxmeier on bass, Bob Bennett on trumpet, Brad Hackleman on sax, and Ken Burton on keyboards. The band may perform with or without saxophone, but the horns are what really bring the funk to the Flames. James also has a trio with Billy Baxmeier and Jimmy “Cool” Conroy, which is just being called The Trio. They perform southern rock, gospel, blues, soul, and jazz, and sing some great three part harmonies. James is one of the hosts at Rick Pittman’s R&B and Blues Jam on alternate Sundays at the PourHouse in Paso Robles.
For the past six years, James has taken an annual “musical pilgrimage” to the South, mostly New Orleans, but also the Mississippi delta and Memphis, which he feels have deepened him musically. His favorite guitar players are Albert Collins, Walter Washington, and B.B. King, “but I love and appreciate nearly every player out there.”  Burning James has put on several charity events over the last few years, most notably their Mardi Gras event and Halloween masquerade, which have raised over $4400 for the SLO Noor Foundation and KCBX community radio.
Of special note is “Hot Summer Soul 2” at Castoro Vineyards in Templeton, which James is producing. The bands will be Burning James and the Funky Flames, the Bobby Santa Cruz Band, and the Irene Cathaway Band. The event will be on August 8. Tickets will be $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event.
When you go to see Burning James and the Funky Flames, James hopes that you will want to get yourself out on the dance floor. They hope to present challenging material in a credible fashion. Some of the most appreciated compliments come from other musicians. Over all, they hope you join them in a joyful celebration, of music, and of life. Who could ask for more than that?
Upcoming shows include: May 29   Shell Café, Pismo Beach   7 p.m.-10 p.m.
May 30   Linda Drake’s SLO Dance at Odd Fellows Hall, SLO   Dance lessons from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., followed by live music until 11 p.m. Refreshments included. $20/person.
May 31   Rick Pittman’s R&B and Blues Jam   PourHouse, Paso Robles   5 p.m.-8 p.m.
For more dates and information, please go to www.burningjames.com.