(re-published with permission of PR Living - our EXCELLENT local monthly magazine)

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Not your average teacher
Buddy Holly rocks on with Jim Baron
By Isabelle Southcott, Editor of Powell River Living

By day, you'll find him moving about the classrooms at Assumption School as he divides his time between the Grade 3, Grade 7 and 8 classrooms. At first, Jim Baron seems like your average teacher; good with kids, committed, and interested. All the characteristics you hope to find in a teacher.

But dress him in a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, a royal blue blazer, a white shirt and a tie and stick an electric guitar in his hands, and watch out! Jim Baron the teacher evaporates and Buddy Holly takes his place.

Since moving here three years ago, Jim Baron has built a bit of a reputation as Buddy Holly. The real rock and roll superstar died in an airplane crash 1959 but his songs live on. Rave On, Peggy Sue, That'll Be the Day and Oh Boy! are just some of the Buddy Holly songs that Jim (also known as Mr. Baron) does.

Becoming Buddy Holly is quite an interesting story, almost as interesting as some of his other stories.

Jim moved to Powell River three years ago in a roundabout way. Jim and his wife, Fiona, lived in Richmond, Vancouver, Langley and Cloverdale before finding Powell River.

"Part of the reason I came to Powell River was because there was an opening here. Assumption was looking for a music specialist and someone who could teach band. They were having a hard time finding someone to move to Powell River from Vancouver. People we talked to thought it was an island. I'd been here once before in 1990 and put on a show with The Legends of Rock and Roll at the Beach Gardens."

While performing, Jim met a chef called Dave. "Dave Bowes treated the band to an amazing seafood bouillabaisse. We all remembered that bouillabaisse because it was so good!"

Sixteen years later, Jim moved to Powell River. "Shortly after moving here, the teaching staff at Assumption School had a retreat at Desolation Resort and then went for dinner at the Laughing Oyster. I looked at the menu and saw Dave's Bouillabaisse. I ordered it and it was as good as I remembered it had been."

Dave wasn't there that night so Jim talked to Scotty who told him about the Beggar's Banquet. "Scotty told Dave and Dave remembered me and invited "Buddy" to come play in full costume!"

Jim remembers his first Beggar's Banquet at the Laughing Oyster well. "The second set just took off. There were people dancing all over the place. I don't think people were used to dancing in such a small restaurant. "

To say Jim Baron's Buddy Holly act has been successful is an understatement. Even his students think Mr. Baron is cool!

"A lot of the songs I teach for sing-alongs are taken from 1950s music. The kids are singing a lot of nostalgic music as part of their learning. I don't teach a very traditional band program; I try to find music that kids can latch on to and connect with."

Music has been an important part of Baron's life for many years. When he lived in Surrey, in 2005, he had a three-piece band. "We had a lot of work at Fogg'N Suds (a Vancouver bar-restaurant chain). One night a lady came up and said: 'Michael Bublé would like to sing with you.'" "I'd never heard of Michael Bublé before. Apparently he used to be a dishwasher at Fogg'N Suds and this was a staff party and he was invited. I basically said we don't let people use our microphones but she could tell him to come over to our table at our break and we'd see if we would let him sing."

Michael came over and told them he was about to leave but then he began having such a good time so he stayed. He wanted to know if he could do a few Elvis songs.

Jim said "sure" and Michael began to sing.

"All these girls were screaming and dancing. I thought, 'I guess they all know him.'"

After Michael finished he asked Jim if his band had an agent. "I told him, 'No we don't need one, that's fine.'"

Not long after, Jim was watching the Super Bowl and an announcement came on about a surprise Canadian artist singing the national anthem. It was Michael Bublé. "We said, 'Oh, wow, I guess he was famous!'"

To this day Jim kicks himself. "I never got a picture or an autograph but he did enjoy our music!"

And enjoying music is what it is all about. Be it teaching, learning, or performing, music is a big part of who Jim Baron is. Jim Baron the teacher. Jim Baron the performer. Jim Baron the family man.

Rock on!

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