COMBO was notified that bluesman Kirk James, resident of Durango, Colorado, left our music community and this world on August 17, 2025. Kirk was a much loved local musician who, like so many of our musicians was very good at art work. His Facebook page announced: It is with great sadness that we notify everyone of Kirk’s unexpected passing yesterday, August 17th. We are working on details for a memorial at a later date and will post again once we have more information for everyone. Thank you to everyone that has reached out and all the love and support from his amazing friends and community.
Jody Waters: There are no words to convey how devastating Kirk’s passing is to so many people! MaryJo, I am so very sorry for the loss of your loving, cherished husband. My heart is with you and Kirk’s entire family. Kirk was always so caring and kind to me. A treasured memory is that he played at my wedding and brought so much joy to all of us that day. This is so heartbreaking
Deborah Cowan: MaryJo I was a graphic designer in Durango in the “old days” (cut-and-paste, pre-computer) and knew Kirk that way, but also because of his music. I still have his 1998 CD “Kirk James – The Way It Goes”. For several years, Kirk and another musician, Paul Aage, ran the Sunday night jam sessions. I am in shock at the news of Kirk’s passing. My deepest condolences to you for your loss. Deborah Cowan
Karen Klingaman: Rob and I are heartbroken to hear this news. Kirk was a very good friend with amazing talent and a huge staple at the Rusty Shovel Saloon. Kirk’s biggest accomplishment was finding Mary Jo there wasn’t a conversation when her name didn’t come up with kind words. We will miss him terribly as will many. Heartfelt hugs to you Mary Jo.
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Kirk K. James | May 14, 1964 – August 17, 2025
Kirk “Bluzman” James passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the age of 61 in Durango, Colorado. Kirk was born on May 14, 1964, in Texas City, Texas, to parents William Hastings James (Bill) and Alethia Charlene Kinard James (Char). He graduated from Skyline High School of Dallas in 1982 and attended The Art Institute of Houston.
After years of growing up in a devout church family in Dallas, and visiting Colorado on family vacations, Kirk made Durango his full-time home in 1985.
Throughout his life, Kirk 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”.
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. 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.
While accomplished in his creative skills, Kirk was a modest man that was most proud of others. He would reminisce about his parents’ careers, his brother Terry’s work endeavors and boast of his nephews’ escapades as they grew up. When Kirk and Mary Jo Royce were married December 27, 2013, he would become a devoted and caring stepfather and grandfather to numerous grandchildren, which gave him the pleasure of getting to act like a kid all over again.
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; step-daughter Kristin Pettinger husband Matt and children Paxton, Peyton, Preston, Jaycee and Jentree; step-daughter Katie Mitchell husband Kelly and son Cooper; step-daughter Kassi Paxton and children Rhianna, Eli and Otto; Aunt Sherry Hanna and husband John; Aunt Barbara Fudge; Aunt Betty Dobbs; and numerous cousins.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful family, friends, colleagues and fans who loved Kirk with the kindness and respect that he always extended to others. We are all better people for having known Kirk.
A memorial service and celebration of life is to be held on Sunday, September 21, 2:00 pm at the event center of Sky Ute Casino Resort, 14324 Hwy 172 North, Ignacio, CO 81137. For those traveling to attend the event, special room rates may be available at the Sky Ute Hotel starting on 8/22/2025.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Kirk’s name may be directed to https://everloved.com/life-of/kirk-james-durango-co/ or to KSUT Public Radio https://www.ksut.org/ .
In honor of Kirk’s legacy, please feel welcomed 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.
https://everloved.com/life-of/kirk-james-durango-co/obituary/
Photo: Kirk James (from the obituary)
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
Local guitarist Austin Ross writes: When I first moved back to Denver in 1990. I put together a badass original band called High Class Trash. We were well received and played lots of fun shows. Andy Pfeiffer was our bass player, and a major part of that band’s sound. We lost touch over the years, but reconnected within the last 10 years. Even re-recording an old high class trash song, with him playing drums and bass and me doing vocals and guitar. You will be missed my friend. The Denver music scene has lost a legend. R.I.P Andy Pfeiffer
https://www.facebook.com/andyconda69
We were unable to find more info on Andy’s passing at this time. We will continue to look FYI.
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From Care2 via Jock Bartley on Facebook: Trump shut down our LGBTQ+ suicide and mental health hotline, but CANADA opened a US toll-free number to theirs… so our citizens can get help anytime, at no cost: 1-877-330-6366
Kindness & empathy have no borders.
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
Posting for my Veteran/singer/songwriter/musician friend Troy Hoss: Heavy on my heart so here goes: This is a very real problem … 22 Veterans a day surrender to their demons. #SuicideAwareness | Call Veteran’s Hotline: 988 #1 or 844-647-1354
August 2025
27: Jim Kimball, 59, American drummer (Laughing Hyenas, Mule, The Jesus Lizard).
26: Manuel de la Calva, 88, Spanish singer (Dúo Dinámico) and songwriter (“La, la, la”); Mestre Damasceno, 71, Brazilian Carimbó singer and cultural director.
25: Nisse Karlén, 50, Swedish singer (Sacramentum), suicide; Rogério Meanda, Brazilian guitarist (Blitz); Bengt Pegefelt, 70, American-born Swedish music teacher, singer and songwriter (“Köppäbävisan”).
24: Margareta Ivănu , 75, Moldovan singer.
23: Joel Sill, 78, American music supervisor, pulmonary fibrosis.
22: Miguel Proença, 86, Brazilian classical pianist; Yaroslav Yevdokimov, 78, Ukrainian-born Belarusian singer.
21: Salvador Aguilar, 56, Mexican rock singer (Coda), stomach cancer; Jan Erik Berntsen, 80, Norwegian actor and singer; Stanisław Sojka, 66, Polish jazz and pop musician and composer.
20: Brent Hinds, 51, American heavy metal musician (Mastodon, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra) and songwriter (“Colony of Birchmen”), Grammy winner (2018), traffic collision; Frank Øren, 59, Norwegian singer (Bjelleklang)
19. Michael Antunes, 85, American saxophonist (John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, Ernie and the Automatics) and actor (Eddie and the Cruisers), kidney failure; Harvey Glatt, 91, Canadian music promoter, founder of CHEZ-FM; Klára Hamburger, 91, Hungarian musicologist; Enric Hernàez, 68, Spanish singer-songwriter and composer; Luz, 32, Japanese singer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2025
Durango Blues Musician Kirk James Passes, Age 61 // Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths
