Music lovers in the Durango area – and beyond – woke to the news Monday morning that longtime local music legend, artist and pinstriper Kirk James had died on Sunday at age 61 in Durango. It wasn’t long before tributes began to fill social media pages, with family, friends and fans sharing photos and remembrances.
According to an obituary emailed from his wife, Mary Jo James, Kirk “Bluzman” James was born on May 14, 1964, in Texas City, Texas, to parents William Hastings James (Bill) and Alethia Charlene Kinard James (Char).
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A memorial service for Kirk James will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 21, 2025, at the Sky Ute Event Center in Ignacio.
A tribute will also be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Gazpacho Restaurant, 431 E 2nd Ave.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in James’ name may be directed to https://everloved.com/life-of/kirk-james-durango-co/ or to KSUT Public Radio, www.ksut.org.
In honor of James’ legacy, people are welcome to post photos, memories and stories online at https://everloved.com/life-of/kirk-james-durango-co/ where memories and words of comfort and condolences may be shared with his family.
“Bill was a Baptist music minister at a very large parish (Wilshire) in Dallas, TX for 33 years, his mom Charlene was a pianist who worked beside Bill and also taught piano,” Mary Jo said in a separate email. “Kirk was required to do classical piano for 8 years before he picked up the guitar which gave him his ‘ear’ for music. He just grew up in a musical family.”
He graduated from Skyline High School of Dallas in 1982 and attended The Art Institute of Houston. Having visited Colorado on family camping trips, Kirk moved to Durango in 1985. His brother Terry also went to Fort Lewis College.
According to his obituary, “throughout his life, he focused on the creative arts as his trade, from making ski run signage at Purgatory Resort in the early days, to creating company logos, cartoons with plenty of satire, posters for events, becoming a Rat Fink licensed artist, to the fine art of custom pinstriping by hand, using the moniker of ‘Bluzman Pinstriping.’”
And there’s his music, playing guitar and singing in the Kirk James Band.
According to his website, Kirk grew up listening to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Reverend Gary Davis, and developed an interest in the blues from an early age. His talent led him to open for musicians such as Devon Allman band, Charlie Musselwhite, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, John Hammond, Richie Havens, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland and Francine Reed.
Remembrances
The Durango Herald is putting together a story of remembrances about Kirk James. If you would like to be included, email katie@durangoherald.com by noon Tuesday. Please include your name and a contact number.
He also won the 1998 Telluride Blues Contest and released studio albums.
“In concert with the visual arts, Kirk’s passion for music led him to be a truly talented performer, playing guitar and singing to many audiences in venues ranging from backyard BBQs to grand concert halls,” his obituary says. “Studying the original blues masters with post-graduate fervor, his obsession with blues guitar led him to be renowned as not only a guitar player at the highest level of skill and finesse, but also a learned scholar of the history of the blues music form.”
Kirk and Mary Jo Royce were married Dec. 27, 2013, at the Strater Hotel, and “he would become a devoted and caring stepfather for three stepdaughters and grandfather to numerous grandchildren, which gave him the pleasure of getting to act like a kid all over again,” the obituary says.
Kirk was preceded in death by his father, Bill James, father-in-law Merle Royce and granddaughter, Kinley Mitchell.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Royce James; mother Charlene James; mother-in-law Virginia Royce; brother Terry James and wife Susan; nephew Grady James, partner Hayley Ohl; nephew Logan James; and Logan James; stepdaughter Kristen Pettinger husband Matt and children Paxton, Peyton, Preston, Jaycee and Jentree; stepdaughter Katie Mitchell, husband Kelly and son Cooper; stepdaughter Kassi Paxton and children Rhianna, Eli and Otto; Aunt Sherry Hanna and husband John; Aunt Barbara Fudge; Aunt Betty Dobbs; and numerous cousins.
“Kirk touched the lives of so many people through his talents,” Mary Jo said. “He was also very generous in donating his time and talent to many charities such as customizing items for raffles for the car clubs, donating panels for the toy run and a lot of other events needing a donation.”
A gathering will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Gazpacho Restaurant and a memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Sky Ute Event Center in Ignacio.
katie@durangoherald.com
