Jim Cain Memorial Fund
James Harold Cain, one of the Valley’s premier jazz musicians and owner of Cain Productions, died on January 2, 2016 at McAllen Medical Center. He was 58. During his life, “Jim” as he was known to all, touched and inspired thousands of persons with his passion for music and his skill as a jazz bassist. For more than three decades, Jim performed with Rene Sandoval’s South Texas Jazz Quartet featuring Rene Sandoval on saxophone, Grace Valdez on vocals/piano, Javier Michel on drums and Jim on bass. Loyal fans from the Valley, all over the United States, Mexico and other parts of the world would come to see them perform at Embassy Suites Hotel in McAllen where they performed each weekend for many, many years. The jazz quartet also played at political events, banquets (Border Texan of the Year Banquet), weddings and local jazz festivals including multiple performances as the closing act for the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival.
Jim was well known and respected in the jazz community throughout the state of Texas and was often invited to play gigs in Rockport, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. Jim also became a mentor too many other musicians and often conversed for hours on the merits of good musicianship through study and practice. He loved listening to other bands play, occasionally sitting in with them. Jim was known to give away equipment or instruments to those who expressed an interest in music, encouraging them to master their chosen instrument. In all respects, music was Jim’s passion and he shared it with the utmost generosity. Here is a link to one of his performances:The Way You Look Tonight - Rene Sandoval & South Texas Jazz Quartet
Jim was also an accomplished audio and video producer and engineer. He founded Cain Productions in Weslaco, Texas, a video and recording studio where he produced records, television shows, instructional videos, and thousands of video depositions for the local legal profession. Jim’s meticulous attention to detail and superior audio/video engineering skills made him the go to videographer for many prominent attorney firms in the Valley.
Jim's illness was prolonged and brutal. He lost his sight. His kidneys failed. He was in the hospital, in and out of intensive care, for the last year of his life. As a musician and small business owner, he had no health care coverage. His inability to work coupled with the cost of his hospitalization created a financial disaster as it would for many of us.
Nothing can replace Jim. No amount of money can make his family whole, but a little bit of help would make a huge difference to his widow, Robyn, and his kids. Family resources have been tapped out and there are many bills to pay. Jim's youngest, daughter Tessa, graduated from high school in May and needs help to get her college career started. It's tough to ask for money, but sometimes you just need a helping hand.
Jim was the kind of guy that would give you his last dollar if you asked. He was generous with his talent, his wisdom, his skills and his money. God only knows how much free work he did recording musicians, coaching kids at baseball, videotaping events, etc. Jim always had faith that what you give you get back some day.
Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.