James Hall, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, began his music career at the age of 17, playing guitar in local bands in Charleston, West Virginia. After three years of service in the United States Army, Professor Hall attended the West Virginia Institute of Technology and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. He also taught as Director of Bands and Choral Music in Dunbar, West Virginia. Professor Hall received his Masters degree from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

During graduate school, Mr. Hall played drums with big bands and small ensembles in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. Mr. Hall declined a call from Woody Herman to join his band and instead accepted a teaching position at Southwest Texas State University.

Professor Hall came to the University of South Carolina in 1979 as Professor of Percussion, teaching and performing in jazz and orchestral ensembles. Mr. Hall served as Principal timpanist with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and the Columbia Lyric Opera Orchestra. In 1989 Jim Hall founded the Palmetto Pans Steel Band. This group performed all over the state in public schools, the State Fair, Trinity Episcopal Noon Concert Series, Workshop Theatre, and the Koger Center for the Arts.

As a performer, Jim Hall has performed in concert with jazz artists Bill Watrous, Tom Scott, Marian McPartland, Terry Gibbs, and Billy Eckstine. He has also played in the big bands of Les and Larry Elgart, and The Dorsey Brothers Band under the direction of Warrer Coen Show, Covington. He performed on the Bob Hope Show, the Red Skelton Show, the Barbara Eden Show, and the Rich Little Show. He traveled with jazz singer Gloria Loring, and country singer, Ray Price.

Professor Hall retired, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, in 2001 after twenty-two years of teaching percussion at the University of South Carolina.