Jim Whittemore

After a high school rock and roll band entry into musical performance, Jim Whittemore finished college only to stumble into the trades in carpentry. Having put his musical involvements aside for about 30 years, Jim had the opportunity to blow the dust off his playing abilities and jam weekly with guitarist Burt Teague and percussionist Rob Fried.

With Rob’s increasing health problems, someone thought to host a benefit gig shortly before Rob's demise to POEMS Syndrome,  a rare blood disorder that damages the nerves and affects many other parts of the body.

Raising the money in advance of need was Jim's motivation for founding the Southern New England Musicians Fund, Inc., with a goal of providing "Benefits For Those Without Benefits".    Jim led the effort to gain non-profit charity status for the organization and in October of 2014, Musicians Lifeline, Inc. was formed.