Jim Radloff began ‘playing piano’ at the age of 3 by mimicking old radio commercials, and plays primarily by ear. During college and graduate school he played in saloons, supper clubs and piano bars. Since 1989 he has concentrated on tunes of the Ragtime, Classic Jazz, Vaudeville, WWI, Prohibition and Great Depression eras (1890’s-1930’s). His ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ CD captures the spirit of the music of these times. His passion for this historical American music led to him to found the Eau Claire Ragtime Festival www.ecragtime.org and Chippewa Valley Ragtime Society cvragtime@charter.net. He is Music Director of the non-profit, tax-exempt Eau Claire Ragtime Festival celebrating its 10th Annual Ragtime Festival January 9 – 11, 2009. Unique among such festivals, to date over $70,000 has been donated to local non-profits.