About Jim Gramze

Jim Gramze is a retired UAW worker who completed his 30 years with General Motors by the age of 49. During those years, he earned a B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University, double-majoring in music and psychology, with a minor in writing.

After college, Jim spent a decade as the keyboardist for the classic rock band Sidekix. He still chuckles about having turned down offers to join both Martha Reeves and Rare Earth—either gig would have been great, but walking away from a GM pension just wasn’t on the setlist.

Following his retirement from both the auto industry and the stage, Jim and his wife Cathy spent three years living as retired expats in Thailand before returning to the U.S., where they now reside in Taylor, Michigan.

These days, Jim collects a pension while teaching piano, composing on occasion, indulging in philanthropy, blogging, and writing about music theory projects (like this one). He’s also working on a novel and—when necessary—refers to himself in the third person.