Jim Taft

Guitar, Drums, Piano, Voice

Jim Taft has been playing drums for almost 48 years and playing guitar for 43 years. He has been a professional musician since the age of 15, when he began playing drums and singing in a club band. He continued to hone his craft in high school and after earning an Associate’s Degree in Theatre Arts, was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music as a percussion principal. He remained there studying with Bob Tomagni and later with Jon Hazilla, while also majoring in Music Education. Also an accomplished vocalist, Jim sang in many shows at the Berklee Performance Center for such dignitaries as George Martin, Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Collins and Al Jarreau.

After graduation, Jim got a gig playing drums with New England’s premier party band, The Fools. Through the ‘90’s he continued to work with outstanding musicians in the Boston area, playing weddings, functions, clubs, bar mitzvahs and more. In 2009 he hooked up with Danny Klein (“Ace on Bass” with the J. Geils Band) and joined Danny Klein’s Full House. Traveling the northeast performing all J. Geils music in the band, Jim began as the drummer and now performs as their lead singer. In addition to Danny Klein’s Full House, Jim plays drums and sings with Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing, a 20-piece big band including members of The Fools, playing classic rock songs and selling out theaters and other venues across New England!

Jim also has extensive recording studio experience. He has sung on many projects used for schools and company meetings, as well as commercial jingles for TV and radio. Most notably, for "Wachusett Mountain" and Colonial Auto Group, as in, "Yes! You can have it all at Colonial!"

Parallel to his music career, Jim was an “At-home-Dad” to his three kids, now grown, starting in 1994, enjoying all that entails. This includes all the musical things like helping them with piano practice, preparing recital pieces, and volunteering by performing in the schools and helping with the high school jazz band’s rhythm section.

Jim is extremely excited to be teaching at Keith’s Music House. “It’s great! I get to share my passion and knowledge to help others grow and develop their own love for, and connection to this art form. That’s what it’s all about!”