So..... once upon a time there was a kid who liked music.... blah blah blah........ (he he)

I'll keep this as short and sweet as I can!!

I was born 21st of May, 1971 as James Kuijpers (although I was only EVER called James when I was being told off! - Jamie is what it turned into). I started playing music when I was just 5 years of age, beginning with guitar and throughout my teenage years I performed in cover and original bands and created lots of music (or in some cases noise!!). Whilst at high school I was shown how to play a VERY basic 4/4 beat on a kit and suddenly my desire to play percussion grew and a new hobby was born.

While spending a number of years (13 to be exact!) working in the music retail industry and teaching private guitar students, I found that I began to play more and more kit and less guitar. Then, when I left the retail industry to work with Music Link (Australian distributors for Pearl, Zildjian and loads of other brands), I finally made drums my main instrument and continued to perform regularly in the Adelaide music scene. I then spent 6 years working with the worlds leading musical instrument manufactures including, Pearl, Zildjian, Latin Percussion, Remo, and Vic Firth. In that time I have had an amazing opportunity to travel the world, meet and learn from some of today’s finest musicians and business people including Karl Lewis of Savage Garden, Terrepia Richmond of The Whitlams, John Otto of Limp Bizkit, Virgil Donati, Steve Smith, Grant Collins, Dom Famularo, Alejandro Vega, Kenny Aronoff, Tommy Igoe, Billy Ward, Nate Morton, Gil Sharone, Thomas Lang, Vic Firth, Debbie Zildjian and Remo Belli.

I've been performing clinics around the country, in front of hundreds of all types and levels of musicians, young and old, beginners to pro’s, sharing my thoughts, teachings, enthusiasm and knowledge with anyone that’s open to learning. JK's History? Click Here

I currently do fill in gig's for friends (when time permits) and occasional session work in studios. I've just recently started doing fill in gigs on guitar/vocals for a friends band Enuff Said. I also run Billy Hyde Music Adelaide and my favorite things to do these days (other than performing) are spending time with my wife & kids, physical fitness and kayaking.

I am a vegetarian, don't drink coffee, a natural blonde and my favorite Disney character is Pluto!!

There you go!!!

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