2012 Strut Your Stuff Shine & Show
Special Guests...

Jim House

Lead singer and usual front man for the band, Surrender Dorothy is Jim House. For others who may know him from his Limit days - oftentimes call him "Bush." And trust us, it's not because of political affiliations.

Jim began playing guitar when he was around 15 years old. "My parents bought a guitar for my sister one Christmas and to even out the gifts, they went ahead and got me one too – the very first day, my neighbor came by and showed me how to play "Smoke on the Water. From that moment on – I was doomed!"

Jim has a long musical career. Jim met Mike Duncan, now of KGD. Jim and Mike forged a musical relationship that has lasted more than twenty years. Initially calling themselves Trilogy, Mike, Jim and Joe Schmitz, played many clubs with a then popular device known as a drum machine. It soon became apparent that a real drummer was in order. Chris Kohler approached the band in 1988 and soon the band was opening for John Cafterty and the Beaver Brown Band of the "Eddie and the Cruiser's" movie soundtrack. Appearing before over five thousand people, the band got the attention of a booking agency out of North Carolina. Deals were made and soon "The Limit" was on the road touring all over the east coast.

The Limit toured and opened for many national and regional acts including: Britney Fox, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Marshall Tucker Band, the Dixie Allstars; which included members of southern rock greats Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet. In the early to mid 90's, Jim – along with the Limit, began performing and writing country music and was able to perform live at the Rocky Gap Bluegrass Music Festival for two years in a row. They opened for such artists as, Winona Judd, Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart, Kenny Chesney, the Mavericks, Sawyer Brown just to name drop a few…

In early 2000, The Limit released their first CD titled Dysfunction, which Jim sang lead vocals. The CD, which for several months kept pace with national recording artist's record sales in local record stores, was a big hit in Europe. At one point, a Swedish record label was looking to sign the band to a contract. The Limit was actually featured in an Italian music magazine called "Flash" and tried to convince The Limit to come to Europe to tour. But because touring was taking its toll on Jim, while trying to hold down a full-time job and helping to raise his oldest son Jeffrey Tyler, Jim left the Limit in 2001. Occasionally, Jim will still get together with former and long-time partners in crime Tim Haines, now of the Cramer Brothers, and Kent Beagley, also currently of KGD – to arouse fans and bring back old times!!

After taking several years off – Jim just couldn't stay away. However, during his hiatus from music, Jim bought a house, had his second son James Timothy, and married Michelle, his girlfriend of approximately 13 years. Says Jim, "I did everything backwards." Jim also set out to create a solo career, performing as "Just Jim" for several years. "I liked the fact that I was in control of my schedule, but I missed the camaraderie of playing in a group." Jeff Sears, former Surrender Dorothy's drummer, happened to catch Jim doing his show at Deep Creek Lake and invited him to sit in with the band – then known as Jambo. The three piece group also consisted of Bruce O'donnell on guitar and Ken Nolan on bass. The rest as they say – is history.

"I have been extremely blessed to have played and performed with some of the finest musicians in this area and abroad. And although I never really achieved my dream of becoming a "big rock star", I wouldn't have changed nor would I change a thing."