James Austin of the Jeff Leonard Band

Nickname: BB Austin

Date of birth: June 12

Favorite food: Sushi, Fish, Sea food of any good taste

Favorite color: Any color that's pretty!

Favorite drink: Pepsi ("gotta stop drinking this stuff...")

More about James:

Fun Facts:

I have been playing Bass guitar since 1964, in C'Ville (as we call my hometown). In those days there was not much to do except play baseball in the summer, and football and basketball when the season rolled around. Fishing and swimming was the fill-in for the hot days of summer. However, at that time I was always interested in playing music, and listening to the music of favorite musicians like: Cook, Brown, Holiday, Armstrong, Calloway, Charles, and others of that day made the thrill for music more exciting. My uncle, Clarence Revelle, was a guitar player who had the old time blues playing sound down. I would sit and listen to him as long as he would play. He would show me different song chords and patterns on his guitar. This new found desire shortly became a full-time passion! I purchased my first Bass guitar (Audition) and amp from Woolworth Department Store at the total cost of $69. I played with and hung around bands until I joined the United States Army and spent almost twenty-three years. During my military days I kept the passion of playing alive. I played with a few bands during my service days, and sat in on many jam sessions around the world. After retiring from the United States Army I became even more addicted to playing. Without the duties of the military interrupting, I was in full strive to see that I continue to play and to become involved with a group of players whom also love to play.

I love to have pets! I had a fish tank of catfish for a while (12 years). When they got big enough, I ate them!!!!... Ha, Ha, GotCHa!

Hobbies: SCUBA DIVING (another skill I picked up in Charlottesville, Virginia. I have been involved in scuba diving since... like... forever! I have over 1000 dives and I don't know how many countries and bodies of water around the world I have dove in. Talk about an obsession!!!

Traveling is another hobby I like. Now, playing music and travel has GOTS to be the all time most thrilling thing that can take place!