Judith L. Jewett (Chandler)

      The first time I saw Jimmy he was entering our classroom at Mason School carrying a ukulele.   It might have been as early as 1st grade.  He performed for the class and captured the hearts of all  the girls.... and their mothers!  He was perhaps the closest thing to a prodogy  that the Class of 1960 ever had.  Most of all,  I remember his accomplishments never seemed to change him.   He was always very sweet and kind.  This was a huge loss for our class.  You are right Jim Paxton, everyone on this list deserves a rose.

Nancy E. Easton (Green)

Jim was so very talented. He was one of the quiet backbones of our high school dance band. Had played the string bass and piano with enviable skill. And always greeted you with that quiet smile.

Nancy Easton Green

H. Joyce Koch (Schop)

I remember Jim playing and singing "I Believe" it was beautiful.  He was very talented.  He sat next to me  in Miss Tudor's 2nd Gr. class at Mason School.

Judy J. you were there too.

Robert L. Hall

Jim was a very talented musician.  He played bass for Bess Bonnier on piano at Bakers Keyboard Lounge and  at other clubs in the Detroit area.  Jim and Bess cut a record together, unfortunately I don't have a copy.  Jim also liked to mess around with automobiles.  He had a 1956 Ford that he overhauled the engine and repainted. He ripped out the interior and installed heavy duty sound insulation.  While he was living in California someone broke into his garage and stole the Ford.  They left his Jaguar XKE untouched!  Bob Hall

Patricia L. Hagland (Whitledge)

(I am posting this on behalf of Jim's college friend, George Beckman, who sent this to me recently, asking that I post it for classmates to read.)

In California, I was in the basement of Founder's Hall at La Verne College, working on "September Song". The door of the practice room opened and Jim Gaden poked his head in and asked what I was doing. He listened a bit and asked if he could show me something. He played the first measures of "September Song" using a new chord that vibrated my soul. I took piano lessons from Jim for the next four years. 

The year before I was married, I roomed with Jim. I well remember the ’56 Ford mentioned above. He painted the car himself and it was glossy black. I also remember the XKE. It was a 1963 coupe, primrose in color; a beautiful car. I used to tell Jim, “That car doesn’t start, it just begins running.” One day I came home to find him adjusting the wire wheel spokes with a tuning fork!

Jim came to California to attend La Verne and got a teaching degree. He taught 6^th grade one year but it wasn’t for him. The year we roomed together he began piano tuning and supplemented his income by substitute teaching. He helped me select my grand piano and helped me regulate the action. The place was always full of music when Jim was in the house.

His bass stood in a corner by the piano and one Saturday he went out for doughnuts and when he returned I had Oscar Peterson playing “I Remember Clifford” on the stereo. Jim picked up the bass and started playing at lightening speed with the record. Afterward, he said, “There is nothing like hearing Oscar play “I Remember Clifford” at Baker’s in Detroit, sitting around the concert grand Steinway.” I asked about Baker’s and he said, “Everyone played at Baker’s.”

I asked, “Did you ever play at Bakers?” With that Gaden shy smile he said, “Yes.” I think of Jim every time I sit down at the piano.

George Beckman