James

Listening to his older brother play fiddle and piano as a toddler fostered a lifelong passion within James Moore for music.  A Lexington Kentucky native, he began taking piano lessons at age six with the encouragement of his mother.  By the 4th grade, he picked up the violin and at 12 started playing guitar with the help of some very motivational teachers who saw the potential for musical greatness.  Two short years later, James started playing and writing music with various junior high and high school rock bands.  The sky seemed to be the limit.  However, in spite of his promising future in music,  by the age of 16, alcoholism had crept into his life.  By 18, James was a daily drinker, waking up to a drink in his hand most mornings.  

It wasn’t until August of 1992, that he finally became willing to try to stay sober.  At 25, James realized he was going to die without help.  With a history of multiple ER visits due to alcohol poisoning and unsuccessful attempts at treatment programs, it was only a matter of time before it took him out.  In desperation, he contacted a friend from AA who had tried to help him in the past. For the first time James wanted to change, so with the help of friends, fellow AA members, his new sponsor, Stan, the desire to survive, and most importantly...God, James was able to become free from the chains that bound him, one day at a time. 

In early sobriety, James found a new purpose in the pursuit of the profession of social work.  He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, then eventually his LCSW; in which he practices today.  Yet, through all these hardships, he maintained his love and pursuit of music.   Fast forward 27 years, James is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in acoustic and electric guitar playing, as well as bass, mandolin, fiddle,  and Hot Jazz banjo.  For him, music is therapy and an integral part of his continued recovery process.  His wide-ranging, comprehensive style was shaped by influences, such as Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Vaughan, Tony Rice, Jimmy Page, Robert Cray, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.  James creates a variety of music with various stringed instruments in rock, blues, jazz, swing, bluegrass, Irish fiddle music, and folk.  Playing guitar for over 41 years and touring with various bands in and out of the state of Kentucky, he has had special guest appearances on KET, including In Performance at the Governor’s Mansion, the Master Musicians Festival, and performed live at the Black Mountain Festival in Ashville, NC.  With the debut of the Kentucky tribute album, 'Bluegrass & Roses' and the integration within the Kentucky Arts Council the future is looking bright for James and his duo.

James lives in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife Marlee and two daughters, Amelia and Olivia.

*Dusti Rose Photography

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