For years, James Goelitz has been a working guitarist on Chicago's music scene. A Chicago native, he began playing professionally in his late teen years in the versatile pop band, Jump Street. Since the seventies, he has performed in clubs and festivals throughout the Midwest and East Coast as well as on live radio and television projects including live performances on Public radio's WDCB. He has worked with many jazz, blues, and R&B artists including Delmar recording artist Sunnyland Slim, Dave Doran (formerly of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band), Marty Binder (Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy), ZZ Hill Jr., the Emjays, The Stay-Tuned-Orchestra and many more. He has opened up for such acts as the Edger Winter Group and former Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles.
 
After winning a performance scholarship to Chicago's Roosevelt University, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies, studying under renowned guitarist Frank Dawson (the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Marshall Vente's Project 9). In addition, he also studied under David Bloom while completing coursework at the Bloom School of Jazz. Jim has enjoyed teaching classroom, ensemble, and private lessons for many years and has been an instructor at Kagan & Gaines Music since 1995. His teaching interests include Jazz, Blues, Rock, and R&B, with an emphasis on Jazz and Blues improvisation and expression. He structures his teaching philosophy around the core musical values that are the cornerstone of American Art Music while at the same time providing a supportive and positive learning environment. Mr. Goelitz assesses each student's needs on an individual basis and customizes each and every lesson plan around that student's abilities and knowledge. In addition to maintaning a full teaching schedule, Jim is currently working on recording his next CD project.