Jim Willingham

My name is Jim Willingham, although my name was actually Cavender Willingham up until I was three years old. At this point after being called "Cadaver," and "Cavendirty," by my precocious older brother, my parents decided that this name may turn out to be an onerous burden to a child so slow and clumsy. Although motor skills difficulties stuck to me throughout childhood and won me such venerable titles as "Goofy," and "Veg," I thrived in other ways:
I became addicted to reading. Seriously! This developed my spelling and vocabulary skills
I became quite a good cusser in 6th grade. This won me the respect of my peers, who shared a love for cussing, and heavy metal videos such as Quiet Riot's "Metal Health."
I adopted a sense of humor that was self-deprecating, and suited my gawkiness.
I always pulled for underdogs.
I became obsessed with music, playing guitar and playing in bands.
These things stuck with me. Now I play in a band, called Ham1, in Athens, Georgia, teach remedial reading groups in an elementary school and homeless shelters here, and have harnessed my gawkiness and nervous energy into a.... uh... individual style?
By the way, I think the new punk rock is having good manners and being altruistic. So many people think that being rude and selfish is cool! Nope! Not any more.... It doesn't work brothers and sisters!