Wolf Creek Many couples spend their time involved in different activities, but one local husband-and-wife team is tethered by their love of music.
Marcia, better known as Marci, and Jim Wilcox met at a Toastmasters club meeting in 1990 while living in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. It was the beginning of a journey through life and music that has brought them closer together.
Marci was born in Greenville, S.C., while Jim’s place of birth is Elgin, Ill. Marci attended college for business management in Florida, while Jim studied marketing in Illinois.
In earlier years, Marci was employed with USAA Insurance. She enjoyed it and would eventually work her way into a position of teaching other people the insurance business.
Jim, on the other hand, worked at a garden center. He also spent time as a corporate training manager, eventually managing 80 consultants at AchieveGlobal.
Both Marci and Jim love music. She had no formal musical or singing experience nor training, but she did possess natural talent. She plays the ukulele, mandolin and piano.
She also loves to sing. Marci’s musical inspiration is Karen Carpenter, and she enjoys singing along with the radio.
Jim’s inspirations were Herman’s Hermits, The Beatles and The Eagles. His favorite musician is James Taylor.
He enjoys playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin and ukulele. Jim started taking classes at age 12 and learned to play music from friends along the way, giving him the abilities he enjoys today.
The couple merged their talents and today entertain folks with songs at such places as their church, fundraisers, nursing homes, the Murphy Art Center and Friday Night Art Walk. They enjoy playing old jazz, country and gospel music.
Marci’s advice to young people interested in playing an instrument is to “pick an instrument that you can carry everywhere.” A portable instrument is easy to carry and allows one to play wherever they go.
The couple plans to remain right where they are in the future.
“I feel like I’m living a dream life,” Jim said, “so in 10 years I hope I’m still living that dream.”
Marci’s non-musical hobbies include gardening and floral design, while Jim enjoys painting, wood carving and being a magician at children’s parties. Both choose blue as their favorite color – she favors aqua, he likes denim.
The Wilcoxes have acquired many different musical instruments along their journey and display cherished possessions on a fireplace wall in their home.
A couple of the instruments that adorn their 30-foot fireplace include a cowbell from Switzerland and a guitar from the 1940s that a 17-year-old boy bought before he died in a drowning accident. His parents kept the instrument under the bed for years until they passed on the treasure to Jim.
The beautiful pieces, many which are antiques, remind them of the melodies and friends they’ve stored to memory in their dream life, which they enjoy sharing with others.