The childhood photo of James Valentine in Rolling Stone

We sent several photos of James as a kid to Rolling Stone at their request. This is the one they chose. James is about 7 years-old in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is learning to play Dad's guitar at our home on Park Avenue where we lived for 28 years. All five of the Valentine kids started piano at age 8 (mandatory). With a good background in music theory, James picked up a guitar at age 13 or 14 and never put it down. We never had to tell him to practice. With money from a paper route, he bought his own guitar lessons.