Robert Dennis James
”Bob”
1952-2021
Childhood
Bob was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952, in Struthers, Ohio, to Jimmie and Wilma James, the youngest of three siblings. Struthers, along with its neighboring city Youngstown, was a thriving steel and iron hub, positioned roughly halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The promise of steady wages in the steel mills attracted many Eastern European immigrant families from New York seeking work and an affordable place to raise a family.
Wilma, née Maizel, had Yugoslavian and Croatian roots, while Jimmie came from Italian ancestry. Jimmie worked as a truck driver for Tube Galvanize, while Wilma balanced factory jobs and a role with the town’s chamber of commerce.
Beyond a few silent reels of 8mm film, some report cards, and a handful of old photographs, I know little about Bob’s early years in Struthers. I imagine he spent that time as any child would—simply being a kid. Maybe there was music in the house, or perhaps his love for singing emerged after moving west. His report cards suggest he gravitated toward the creative side of things from an early age, hinting at the path he would eventually follow.
Torrance, CA
In 1963, Wilma separated from Jimmie and moved with a young Bobby to Southern California, settling in the coastal town of Torrance to start fresh. Bob adapted quickly to West Coast life—coming of age, finding his voice, singing in bands, landing a major label deal, becoming a father, marrying, and building a career in the steel industry. He remained in the area for nearly 55 years, drawn to the sunshine, fresh seafood, and rock 'n' roll.
Bob immersed himself in music almost immediately after arriving in California. At Torrance High School his first band The Sentrys won the 1968 Universal Studios Rock ‘n’ Roll Playoffs—earning a cool $200. The band’s lineup included Dave Pack and Joe Puerta, who went on to form Ambrosia. In 1970, Bob enrolled at Harbor College in Wilmington, CA, where he studied (loosely) photography and mathematics.
While working at Tower Records in Hollywood, Bob moved between bands and immersed himself in the legendary Sunset Strip music scene. It was during this time that he joined forces with guitarist and songwriter Michael Ziuliani in the band Shatterminx. The lineup also featured the late, great Brian Asher on bass and cello, along with drummer Marc Droubay—best known for his work on Survivor’s 1982 hit Eye of the Tiger.
Together, the band tore through the Strip, playing iconic venues like the Whisky, the Viper Room, and The Roxy. The few surviving live recordings capture a band pushing the boundaries of rock, blending intricate arrangements with a mystical, almost otherworldly melodic sensibility. Their sound—somewhere between the progressive complexity of Yes and the raw power of Led Zeppelin—was bold, sinewy, and ahead of its time.
Clockwise from top: Bob James, Brian Asher, Marc Droubay, Michal Zuliani
Life started moving pretty fast in early 1975. On a whim, Bob auditioned for Ronnie Montrose, hoping to front the reimagined version of his namesake proto-rock band, Montrose. Ronnie was eager to forge a new sound after the departure of original vocalist Sammy Hagar, and Bob as offered the position on the spot after nailing the audition.
The band went on to release two full-length albums on Warner Bros. Records: the grand, dragon-and-damsel-laden Warner Bros. Presents… Montrose! and the unapologetically swaggering Jump On It, featuring a Hipgnosis-designed cover that even Spinal Tap might have envied.
Montrose played hundreds of shows in support of those two records, touring under the management of the legendary Bill Graham. They shared stages with rock giants like KISS, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Foghat, while frequently headlining San Francisco’s beloved Winterland Ballroom—the band’s de facto clubhouse.
Bob’s girlfriend Jill (my mom) preserved much of Bob’s memorabilia from that era, including laminated itineraries, room keys, photographs, backstage passes, publication clippings, and countless other artifacts. Thanks to her dedication, I’ve been able to piece together a detailed and nuanced glimpse into what must have been an exhilarating—and exhausting—few years. You can check more of it out here.
Montrose at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco 1975 - Photographer Unknown
Family
One particularly sunny afternoon in 1972 along Palos Verdes Drive, long before the big ride with Montrose, fate held out her slender thumb for a ride. Bob stopped to pick up a young hitchhiker named Jill Willing, a fellow Southern California transplant from the midwest. That chance pickup would significantly alter the course of both their lives. In 1978, Bob and Jill were married. The next year, on August 6, 1979, they welcomed their first and only child, Brendan Willing James. That’s me.
Jill, by Bob
Metalworking Career
In the late 1980s, Bob started work as an apprentice machinist at Lloyd Machine & Tool in Wilmington, CA. Eventually, he and the shop’s owner, guitarist Lloyd Desroches, built a music studio in the front of the shop—blending precision engineering with creative expression.
Visiting the machine shop as a child was always fun. The oil-darkened concrete floor was covered with curled, slinky-like metal shavings, and the big army-green machines hummed and whined. The metallic, greasy scent of the shop clung to my dad’s tools, his red Chevy S-10 pickup truck, his clothes, and to my memory.
When it was time for lunch my dad would take me to the red-awninged taqueria down the street—his favorite spot for tacos. Its bright yellow and orange food wrappers remain so vivid and exciting in my mind. Occasionally lunch came from Steve’s Charbroil or Astro Burger. It’s little wonder I maintain such a lasting affinity for fast food.
In the late ’90s, Bob took a new job as operations manager at Hi-Craft Metal, where he worked for two decades before retiring in 2018.
Bob had a deep love for animals, but none held a more special place in his heart than Harvey the Boxer—affectionately nicknamed "Bowling Ball Head." Bob loved Harvey like a son, and in turn, Harvey behaved like one, often being referred to as my little brother.
Together, they traveled to numerous dog shows, competing and winning the coveted blue ribbon more than once. When Harvey passed, Bob was devastated, honoring him with a heartfelt eulogy and a full funeral service—a testament to their unbreakable bond.
Harvey loved a good head-sit.
This photo will always make me laugh
Bob also had a passion for cars, especially foreign sports cars. His early years in California were adorned with a series of MG convertibles, later giving way to Jaguars and Mercedes. The one exception was his late-1990s Toyota RAV4—a reliable workhorse that he adored and, remarkably, outlasted him.
Me ~ 7yrs - Fresh from the pumpkin patch in the white MG convertible
Dad loved to send selfies after he discovered texting around 2008 or so. He’d prop his phone up somewhere, set the timer, and shoot them off to his friends and family. You never knew what you were going to get, but it was always entertaining. I’d kind of laugh them off at the time, but I sure miss getting them now. I think everyone who got them does. He was unabashedly himself in each shot, always having fun.
This one might be my all time fave - with a block of Trader Joe’s white cheddar cheese. The reason will forever be a mystery.
Much of the information shared here on Bob’s life and music is thanks to Bob’s friends. I’m so thankful for the conversations, photos and time spent reminiscing on Pops. I’ll add more snaps and stories as I get them.
Very Special Thanks to - Michael Kelley, Mike Dauer, Scott Peets, Carlos Flores, Tom and Suzanne Croucier, Joanne Scalzi, Larry Nutter, Jill Willing Windsor, Peter Van Name, Brynn Arens, and Dennis James.
