| The Captain's Bio How he magically came to be. |
James Madison Light III was born and raised in Greensboro, N.C. As a young lad Jim had a creative imagination. He always
enjoyed Drama class in school, acting and performing for others. A magic kit was given to Jim when he was around 7 years old
by his parents. He would practice and perform for his family. He must have gotten his confidence in performing in front of
others from growing up listening to the radio and his D.J. Dad. Jim would even perform for children at the elementary school
where his talented mother taught. Also as a young budding performer puppets and guitar playing where added to many of his
performances. He really enjoyed making others smile at a young age. His performing imagination stretched as far as
pretending to be a preacher like his Grandfather. Speaking uplifting words of wisdom. Little did he realize, like many of us, that
one day what was formed in childhood would later in life come into play.
When it came time for Jim to spread his wings and leave the nest he packed up many of his things and set sail on his
journeys in life. With his childhood endeavors laying dormant Jim decided to pursue the construction field. Both of his
Grandfathers were carpenters. He enjoyed being creative with building materials and turning them into a creation that would
please his customers. He started at the bottom with a company and by his late 20's was working for himself. A real
entrepreneur. As he moved around from place to place he would unpack boxes that he had carried with him from home. He
would run across his old magic kit and framed copies that were full of words of wisdom that his mother had put together for him
as a young lad. He then would claim a place on the wall for them to hang again. These words in a picture frame. He would
read far an few in between but never the less one more way to lay a foundation for him to have inner strength to sail on even
when the waters of life got rough.
On June 6th 2000 as he was navigating his small vessel (a motorcycle) through the night air. A larger vessel
(a truck) came out from a side road not seeing him and crashed into him severally damaging his lower right leg. Would Jim
survive these rough waters, physically and emotionally? The hospital gave him a couple of options. One would be to spend
several years with reconstruction to his leg. Many operations taking various parts of muscle and bone from other areas of his
body with no guarantee of the out come. The second option being amputation. Jim did a lot of praying and soul searching for
the inner strength to make the right decision. Jim chose amputation. He did not believe the first option would give him the
better quality of life.
While recuperating at home he wonder what he would do the rest of his life for a living. Concerned that construction work
would be to hard on him. Jim must have gone to a place deep in his mind. Unlocking some creative doors. He envisioned a
character with a peg leg...a pirate...wait...a magical Pirate! He dug up his old magic kit and started purchasing more tricks
along with Pirate attire. Jim got creative with one of his prosthetic legs, removing the foot and installing a metal pylon and
rubber stopper creating a peg leg. He practiced, practiced, practiced! Then started performing at his friend's children's
parties. Then friends of friends till his character took off and restaurants starting hiring him. Once this happen, Jim realized
that this character he had created had now created a career for him.
Jim's childhood endeavors were now a major part of his life again. So many ideas and exciting journeys ahead for him. This
Ole' Magical Pirate now known all around as Captain Jim. He gives a tremendous amount of credit to his Award Winning
Creative Mother who was an elementary school teacher and his very Wise, Dynamic Dad who was a well known radio
personalty the "Night Light" at WBIG. You truly are a product of your parents.
Captain Jim now performs all around at restaurants, private parties, church groups and festivals, entertaining all ages and
making others smile just like he enjoyed doing as a child. After Captain Jim's Magical Performance, children and adults alike
are uplifted and entertained by his amazing magic and inspirational words of wisdom. Captain Jim says, "I love working with
children, they are our future. It is a joy to entertain, inspire and educate them. I want to make a difference and be a positive
piece of their childhood that they remember as an adult..... and maybe, just maybe I can even make a positive difference in an
adult's life too. This was my fate from the beginning when I was named Jim. J.I.M. stands for Jim Is Magic."
enjoyed Drama class in school, acting and performing for others. A magic kit was given to Jim when he was around 7 years old
by his parents. He would practice and perform for his family. He must have gotten his confidence in performing in front of
others from growing up listening to the radio and his D.J. Dad. Jim would even perform for children at the elementary school
where his talented mother taught. Also as a young budding performer puppets and guitar playing where added to many of his
performances. He really enjoyed making others smile at a young age. His performing imagination stretched as far as
pretending to be a preacher like his Grandfather. Speaking uplifting words of wisdom. Little did he realize, like many of us, that
one day what was formed in childhood would later in life come into play.
When it came time for Jim to spread his wings and leave the nest he packed up many of his things and set sail on his
journeys in life. With his childhood endeavors laying dormant Jim decided to pursue the construction field. Both of his
Grandfathers were carpenters. He enjoyed being creative with building materials and turning them into a creation that would
please his customers. He started at the bottom with a company and by his late 20's was working for himself. A real
entrepreneur. As he moved around from place to place he would unpack boxes that he had carried with him from home. He
would run across his old magic kit and framed copies that were full of words of wisdom that his mother had put together for him
as a young lad. He then would claim a place on the wall for them to hang again. These words in a picture frame. He would
read far an few in between but never the less one more way to lay a foundation for him to have inner strength to sail on even
when the waters of life got rough.
On June 6th 2000 as he was navigating his small vessel (a motorcycle) through the night air. A larger vessel
(a truck) came out from a side road not seeing him and crashed into him severally damaging his lower right leg. Would Jim
survive these rough waters, physically and emotionally? The hospital gave him a couple of options. One would be to spend
several years with reconstruction to his leg. Many operations taking various parts of muscle and bone from other areas of his
body with no guarantee of the out come. The second option being amputation. Jim did a lot of praying and soul searching for
the inner strength to make the right decision. Jim chose amputation. He did not believe the first option would give him the
better quality of life.
While recuperating at home he wonder what he would do the rest of his life for a living. Concerned that construction work
would be to hard on him. Jim must have gone to a place deep in his mind. Unlocking some creative doors. He envisioned a
character with a peg leg...a pirate...wait...a magical Pirate! He dug up his old magic kit and started purchasing more tricks
along with Pirate attire. Jim got creative with one of his prosthetic legs, removing the foot and installing a metal pylon and
rubber stopper creating a peg leg. He practiced, practiced, practiced! Then started performing at his friend's children's
parties. Then friends of friends till his character took off and restaurants starting hiring him. Once this happen, Jim realized
that this character he had created had now created a career for him.
Jim's childhood endeavors were now a major part of his life again. So many ideas and exciting journeys ahead for him. This
Ole' Magical Pirate now known all around as Captain Jim. He gives a tremendous amount of credit to his Award Winning
Creative Mother who was an elementary school teacher and his very Wise, Dynamic Dad who was a well known radio
personalty the "Night Light" at WBIG. You truly are a product of your parents.
Captain Jim now performs all around at restaurants, private parties, church groups and festivals, entertaining all ages and
making others smile just like he enjoyed doing as a child. After Captain Jim's Magical Performance, children and adults alike
are uplifted and entertained by his amazing magic and inspirational words of wisdom. Captain Jim says, "I love working with
children, they are our future. It is a joy to entertain, inspire and educate them. I want to make a difference and be a positive
piece of their childhood that they remember as an adult..... and maybe, just maybe I can even make a positive difference in an
adult's life too. This was my fate from the beginning when I was named Jim. J.I.M. stands for Jim Is Magic."
| By Kim Underwood The Life Of A Pirate Misfortune, but also magic, gave birth to Captain Jim |
| "I would say this character has been lurking in me," he said. Some people get it into their heads that the peg leg is part of his magic. "You would not believe how many people believe it's an illusion," Light said. Certainly, Light could have discovered Captain Jim without the motorcycle accident. He's not sure that he would have, though. "It was meant to be that accident that night," he said. "It changed my life for the best." |
| By Ashley Coffman |
| "I make sure to find a fine line" between catering to the young and the adults, he said. Light admitted that he makes his acts enjoyable for all ages, not to complicated for the children, but interesting enough for the adults. |
| By Monica Young |
| "It's amazing to people that I have taken something that was nearly fatal, something that people consider to be tragic and turned it into a blessing" Light said. |
| To all in the media that have helped to share my story. Thank you! |
| Quotes By Well Known People |
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