Jim Tucker has called Sycamore his home for most of his life. Music was always an important part of his life beginning with the Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts when he was a child. He studied voice during high school with Professor Howard Dill and has sung with many groups over the years including "The Sycamore 4" men's quartet, and for over 40 years with the Federated Church Choir.

He became interested in stringed instruments when his younger children, Jamie and Maggie, were in the Sycamore Suzuki Violin Program. He studied violin and then viola and began playing with the KSO in the early 1990's.

Jim is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a B.A and M.A. in Economics. He has worked as an accountant for many years having a certificate in Management Accounting from the Institute of Management Accountants. He began as an accountant for the Open Door Rehabilitation Center in Sandwich, Illinois, and was last the Accounting Manager for A.B. Dick Company in Niles, Illinois. He is now the General Manager for Cavel International in DeKalb.

Jim and Ann Busse live in Sycamore. They both enjoy restoring old houses in Sycamore, sailing and hiking. Jim enjoys most operas including those by Puccini and Wagner. Favorite orchestra pieces include the Three Sea Interludes of Benjamin Britten and the Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber.