James Rasmussen, ’74, Jazz Musician and Founder of Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Retires

Drew O’Connell, ’97,  Vice President of FAAF and former Principal of Franklin

James Rasmussen stood on the steps that descended below street level at the corner of 1st and Jackson for over a decade -- a head above the sidewalk. On those steps he watched the world go by, first as an employee and later as the owner of Bud’s Jazz Records in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square. James is well known and deeply respected for many things. He is champion for environmental justice through his leadership to clean up the Duwamish River valley. He is also a renowned musician and band leader spanning decades. He also was dedicated to a healthier and more vibrant Duwamish River valley.   From those steps in Pioneer Square, James watched Seattle change over time.  

James was born and raised in South Seattle on Beacon hill; his parents brought their baby home to a house built in 1900. His ancestry dates back much further to his great, great, great grandparents Abner and Ann Tuttle. In the Seattle they knew, they walked their cows down Cheasty Boulevard to drink from the creek. James was primarily raised by his grandfather while his mother and father worked. His grandfather taught him who he was, including to love and respect his native ancestry and cultural heritage. He also taught him the terrible truths about the experiences and treatment of Native Americans in our country – so, to be guarded. 

James remembers going to hear his grandfather and mother speak as members of the Duwamish tribal council from a very young age. Later he was following in the footsteps of his ancestors when he joined the tribal council;  when he became the founding director of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center (DLCC); when he led with the community to form the Environmental Protection Agency’s roundtable superfund to clean up the Duwamish River; and, when he played with and led monumental jazz ensembles.

As James was attending tribal council meetings as a kid he was also attending school in Seattle and learning to play music. He began playing at Kimball Elementary, which at the time was housed only in portables. James fondly remembers the beautifully diverse community of Beacon Hill. He went on to Mercer Junior High school where he continued to build the foundation for his musical career. At the time, Nathan Hale High School was well known for their music program, so James initially wanted to travel north to be part of their music program. However, Chuck Chinn, the band director at Franklin, had heard about James and his prowess as a trumpet player. Chuck visited James at Mercer and made it clear he wanted James at Franklin. James talked to his parents, both of whom are Franklin grads, as is his sister, and James went to Franklin. 

There is much written about the infamous Franklin Jazz Lab of the mid 1970’s. They were among the best high school jazz ensembles in the nation, winning numerous jazz festivals both locally and nationally, including the Reno Jazz Festival.  Kenny Gorelick (Kenny G) and many other skilled musicians were a part of it, along with James who led the trumpet section. The Franklin Jazz Lab was so well known they were written up in Downbeat Magazine and featured on Jazz After Hours with Jim Wilke. They were known for playing funky, hip tunes rather than the typical straight ahead swing and bop other bands were playing. Those funky tunes were composed and arranged by the skilled hands of Jim Gardner, a Garfield grad, who was a cool cat on the music scene. The tunes he wrote were a significant part of what made the jazz lab so well known. To this day, James can rattle off the names of his band mates like it was yesterday. 

At one of the many festivals the Jazz Lab attended, James was approached by one of the judges who offered him a scholarship to continue studying music at Mt. Hood Community College. James had his sights set on Berklee College of Music in Boston. At Berklee, James was a trumpet player amongst an ocean of guitar players. After two years, he moved home to Washington and studied under Bill Cole at Western Washington University. Following his studies at Western, he was back in Seattle doing “first call” (a career goal for successful musicians) for bands touring the country. He played some of the most well known music venues in the city and played with some of the most famous bands of the time including The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Lou Rawls and many others. When these musicians came to town James would report to sight-read their tunes for a quick two-hour rehearsal. Then they would all go to dinner, come back, and play the show to sold out crowds. James played “first call” for 15 years, all the while remaining focused on his Tribal Council commitments and responsibilities. 

When James had done all he wanted to do with his music except start his own band, he and Doug Rasmussen (no relation) started the Puget Sound Jazz Ensemble -- a group which became The Jazz Police, a well-known jazz band in Seattle for decades. The Jazz Police promoted local artists and writers, worked with big names in jazz like Gretta Matassa, recorded 5-6 studio albums and won the Northwest area music award for jazz-big band. They played for decades, holding down a regular spot Tula’s in Belltown among other venues. 

John Beal, a Vietnam veteran who lived in South Park, was passionate about creek restoration and said that the Duwamish River is something the tribe should really take an interest in. James heard that call.  He arranged for John to present to the Tribal Council and following the presentation, James told the Council Chair Cecile Hansen, that this was important for them to consider.  Hansen told him “You’re going to do it.” From then on, James became committed to cleaning up the Duwamish River. 

There were many aspects that he had to learn along the way. He built connections and relationships with organizations and individuals dedicated to the cause. It was through his advocacy and networking that he became a founding member of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC), which tracked the research and testing of the river cleanup efforts. During this time,  James and the Duwamish tribe seized the opportunity to build the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center (DLCC), which officially opened in 2009. James was part of the leadership team who worked on designs for the construction over a 6-year period. He became the first director of the DLCC , a post he held for 7 years.

Because of the work of the DRCC, we are closer than we have ever been to a clean, healthy, and vibrant Duwamish River valley.  James shared his satisfaction for the work of which  he has been part.  In his humble way, he is proud of the fact that 25% more dredging of the river is occurring and that they are now working on the next phase of the cleanup. He points to the collaborative work of people that care, and the input from the community -- both drivers of this effort. James remains an advisor to the DRCC and attends meetings regularly to stay informed and to provide input and guidance to the next generation of change-agents. 

While James was working as the director of the DLCC, he was also working at Bud’s Jazz Records in Pioneer Square. One day he saw a letter on Bud’s desk. Times were tough in the brick-and-mortar vinyl record store industry, but music runs through James’ veins and so he approached Bud and offered to buy the place. From then on, Bud stopped paying James, and James started paying Bud and eventually James owned Bud’s Jazz Records. Things continued changing and times remained tough. Everyone was moving away from vinyl and towards CDs. Online sales increased.  James made the tough decision to sell the inventory, including his own collection, and close the store.

Bud’s Jazz Records, Franklin High School, and the Seattle metropolitan area, occupy the indigenous lands of the Coast Salish and Duwamish people. James shared that he has watched gentrification change the city he has called home. James points out that Seattle has a well-known and well-deserved reputation for being progressive and liberal, but it is also home to significant racial disparities and inequities. In our city, the zip code in which you live influences your life expectancy. James reminds us that in South Park, where the Duwamish River flows, life expectancy is on average 7 years shorter due to the pollution. The health of the Duwamish River valley and its people motivated James to use his voice, to take action, and to make change, stepping into the footsteps of his ancestors. And from his vantage point on the corner of 1st and Jackson, where he stood just a head above the sidewalk watching the world go by, James is assured that “the voices of my people are still there.”

James retired in 2022 and moved to Las Vegas to be closer to his daughter. James still attends tribal council meetings via zoom to stay informed and to keep pushing forward.