Jim Lees' primary early training was with Donald Hageman in Dayton, OH, where he was also pianist for the Dayton Ballet. He moved to San Francisco in 1976 to become pianist for the San Francisco Ballet. For various reasons he became disillusioned with the music "business" and moved to Las Vegas in 1983 to be a poker dealer/player. After a number of years in that challenging city he became a believer in Jesus Christ and moved to Chattanooga in 1995 to become involved with Precept Ministries. He credits his growing faith as the impetus to return to the piano seriously about 12 years ago. He's been helped greatly in that endeavor by the teachers Steven Wilber, Cahill Smith, Lynn Worcester Jones, and currently, Dean Alan Nichols. Jim has been employed as a waiter for the past 20 years at St. John's Restaurant. He is an active member of the American Matthay Association.