Jimmy (James now) Alred

I have lived in Dallas, Austin, Seattle Wa., San Jose Ca. and now Portland Or. I have spent a lot of time in Paris, Amsterdam, Santa Cruz and San Francisco.

I have worked in retail, concert sound (Showco), as a professional photographer and musician.

I have been married 5 times. They were all very nice while they lasted. My current wife Claudine is from Paris and we spend part of every year France.

Luckily, I am healthy and have a lot of energy. I perform music regularly with a rock band "The Foolhardy" www.thefoolhardy.com also Claudine and I perform a French Cabaret show. www.soundcloud.com/paris-texas
I love living in the Pacific Northwest and Portland has an incredible scene (we are not really that much like "Portlandia")

That was a long time ago. The most vivid memories are of bullies wanting to kick my ass. Wichita Falls was a tough place back then. I wrote a song about Texas which has a line,

"I'm glad that I'm from Texas, it gives me the edge of having the crap kicked out of me at an early age. People are tough there like their mustangs and Brahma bulls. You have to prove yourself each day to make it home from school".

I remember the biology teacher Bill Falls (wonderful man) dragging me around the athletic field making me collect bugs because I forgot them for an assignment. I remember Bedford Fur, the speech teacher. He was a very articulate, elegant man. I remember having a crush on a certain Latin teacher, Mrs. Huffines. I thought she was so hot and looking at her photo in an online yearbook, she was really beautiful.

I remember the tennis coach (Chuck Yeager, I think). He was a character and would make you pull 50 push ups for horse play on the court and I remember Patricia Darling in her tennis outfit. I remember Haywood Beasley, one of the first African Americans to grace WFHS. He was such a clown. He and I shared more then a few detention halls and he kept us cracking up. Haywood, Andy Sitler and I would go out drinking.

When I think about it, a lot comes back to me and it's not all bad. Adolescence is tough. I remember some beautiful girls. Another line in that song,

"I like the girls there, they are free, loose and wild with their poured on blue jeans and their cheerleader smiles".

I remember our class slogan.
"Onward, upward we will strive, senior class of 65".

I remember the marching band was pretty good and they would play the pop song "Take Good Care Of My Baby" by Bobby Vee. I remember the school rock band "The Misfits" and I remember seeing Chuck Berry at a couple of dances.
Thank you to every Coyote who made me smile, laugh and helped me survive adolescence. Sincerely!