Jim Strong
Dewey and Gerry with Jim and his family
Jim Strong
|
|
Meet Jim Strong from Sugar Land, Texas. The above photograph was taken last year (America 96-97 Tour) backstage at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion in The Woodlands which is located north of Houston, Texas. Pictured with Dewey and Gerry is my wife Laura, our seven year old son James, and myself. Our two and one-half year old son, Jonathan, missed the show. It was a warm and beautiful Texas night. I thought this concert would never come as we were holding tickets for almost three months. America performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and opened their set with Tin Man, one of my favorite tunes. The guys played for over an hour and sang all our favorites and ended with an encore of Horse With No Name. The orchestra and America sounded exceptional and the audience sang and danced all evening long. Dewey and Gerry had an excellent time conversing with their fans. No one wanted the show to end. However, the end came too quickly for most. But not for us! I made arrangements to meet the band backstage and what a thrill! Gerry signed my son's Disneyland autograph book with the words, "James, You Can Do Magic", not knowing that this was his favorite song. The guys took pictures, signed an old LP (see photo below), and exchanged pleasantries with us all. They made everyone feel like a friend and not just a fan. Appreciation like that truly makes them a class act. I have been fortunate enough to see America at least once each year since 1972 with a few exceptions. All in all, I've seen them 27 times. I'll never forget their 1972 concert when they had only two albums, America and Homecoming, and they played all the songs. Laura has seen America in concert 10 times and James 5. Jonathan has not seen them as of yet, so he just runs around the house singing and dancing to America music. As you can see, we're raising the next generation America style! Laura and I both play the guitar and love to perform America concerts for our friends. I can't tell you how many years I've looked through binoculars and watched Dewey and Gerry's chord progressions to get that America sound! I work for Unocal's Corporate Environmental Group, and was relocated to Texas from California in 1995. The job involves lots of travel both domestic and international. My wife, Laura, is a schoolteacher, but is presently a homemaker ("domestic goddess") raising our sons James and Jonathan. We have been married 13 years. It sure was special meeting the guys after all these years. Our family enjoys their music immensely and each of us savors special songs that inspire us through life. Dewey and Gerry, thanks for sharing your lives with us. God bless.
August 2002 Update: 
This photo was taken by my wife, Laura, at the Springfield, Missouri concert in 2000. Backstage with Gerry are me and my two boys, James (11) and Jonathan (5). The guys waited backstage for us to join them after the show. We were the only ones allowed back there. Click here to see some photos from the 2001 California Mid-State Fair concert. March 2009 Update: 
These photos of Laura and I were taken at the meet and greet following the Stafford Centre (Texas) concert on February 21, 2009. You can also click the following links to see personalized autographed photos for Laura and I as well as an autographed set list. July 2010 Update: 
These photos of Dewey and Gerry were autographed at the meet and greet following the Stafford Centre (Texas) concert on June 25, 2010. You can also click the following links to see an autographed set list and an autographed 40th anniversary logo. 
These photos of Jim and Laura with Dewey and Gerry were taken at the Perth Australia concert on September 12, 2012. Feel free to send your comments or questions to Jim. |
Written: 12 September 1997
Last Revised: 23 September 2011
