Piano lessons paid off — even if he can't play

James Struthers is on a week-long tour of the B.C. interior and performs in Kamloops at The Art We Are, along with Kate Morgan.

James Struthers is packing a lot of miles into reading week.

The University of Manitoba student is determined to complete his education while still pursuing his passion —music — so the week without school will see him perform a show a day from Feb. 18, when he plays Salmon Arm, to Feb. 24, when he wraps up in Vancouver.

Struthers, who is touring with Kamloops native Kate Morgan for the week, stops in the River City for a show at The Art We Are on Feb. 22.

He’s performed in the city often, most recently late last year.

Touring is important for Struthers — and he thanks distance-learning opportunities for making it easier for him  because “it’s a good proving ground when you’re starting out.”

He can put his studies — he’s majoring in psychology, with a minor in management — to use on tour, as well, Struthers said.

“You’d be surprised how psychology fits in,” the Manitoba singer said.

“I write a lot of relationship songs and it helps with that. And psychology is at the heart of marketing and you’ve got to do a lot of that when you’re on tour.”

Struthers credits his parents for starting him on his musical path, even though he didn’t appreciate it at the time.

“My parents put me into piano lessons when I was three years old,” he said, “and I have to thank them because I didn’t like formal education back then and I weaseled my way out of the lessons.

“But then I found I missed music and I picked up a guitar and I’ve been doing this ever since.”

Struthers writes his own songs, or co-writes with others. He’s done several with Morgan, but said he’ll sing someone else’s song if he feels he can give it life.

“Otherwise, if it’s a song by someone who’s not gotten started, the song might just sit there and never be heard,” Struthers said.

It’s important to him to make time for school and he credits an ability to maintain some balance with good scheduling abilities.

It helps to love music, too.

After a tour last year, he was told by his radio tracker he needed a Christmas song.

There wasn’t a lot of time, there were classes to attend — but he immediately thought of Elvis Presley’s classic, Blue Christmas.

The version made it to the Top 10 in the country’s adult contemporary radio charts.

Another song has seen its YouTube video link edging on 200,000 views this month.

You, Me and Optimus Prime came from some nostalgia Struthers felt when he moved into an apartment and started contemplating his future, he said.

“I had this sinking feeling I was growing up too fast,” he said.

“Aging is necessary, but maybe growing up is not.”

As a child, he had always wanted the Transformer action figure Optimus Prime — but never received it because his parents didn’t approve of the toy.

His wistfulness led to thoughts of the unfulfilled wish — and the song and video are the result.

And, yes, he finally got an Optimus Prime.

A family in Fredericton bought it for him after he did a house concert for them.

Struthers and Morgan perform at 8 p.m. Admission is $7.