Jim Self

James Martin Self (August 20, 1943 – November 2, 2025) was an American tubist and composer from Los Angeles. Self performed extensively in Los Angeles and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral tubist, and most notably as a studio musician in movie studios in Los Angeles. He appeared on over 1500 soundtracks. He was also known for his association with the Pasadena Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Background James Martin Self was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1943, the third youngest of four siblings born to Helen Louise (née Martin, 1907–1980) and James Warren "Pete" Self (1906–1959). He grew up in Oil City, Pennsylvania nearby to the east. His father, James, worked as an assistant production manager at the Worthington Corporation and played softball and baseball.

After graduating from Oil City High School in 1961, Jim Self went to Indiana State College (now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania) in Indiana, Pennsylvania. He studied under trumpeter William Becker, whom he considered a "a father figure and a kind of soul mate". In 1965, he earned his bachelor's degree in music education. After graduation, Self joined the United States Army Band. The concert band tuba section included Leo Hurst, Bob Pallansch, Dan Perantoni, Chester Schmitz, and Paul Scott. During his time with the U.S. Army Band, Self earned a Master of Music in Tuba Performance degree from Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. and studied with Harvey Phillips.

Self left the Army Band in 1967. He was offered the position of Assistant Professor of Tuba at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1969. In 1971, while still working at the University of Tennessee, Self began working on a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. At USC, he studied under Tommy Johnson.

Los Angeles

Studio career Self performed at studios in Los Angeles, beginning in 1974. He recorded over 1,500 soundtracks for motion pictures and television. One of his most notable soundtrack credits is his performance on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. His performance was featured as the "voice of the mothership." Self can be heard as a soloist in Jurassic Park, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Casper, Batteries Not Included, Sleepless in Seattle, and Dennis the Menace. He was the first call tubist for notable film composers including John Williams, James Newton Howard, John Debney, and James Horner. During his final years, Self performed on John Williams' scores for The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. He often doubled on cimbasso for soundtrack work, particularly since the late 1990s.

Orchestral performances Self held principal tuba positions with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (1991–2025), Pasadena Symphony (1975–2025), Pacific Symphony (1986–2025), Los Angeles Opera (1986–2025), and Opera Pacific (1987–2008). In his opera orchestra performances he played the cimbasso when required. Self was also a frequent substitute tubist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Teaching Self taught at the University of Southern California from 1976 to 2024. His retirement at USC was celebrated with a "Swan Song Concert". At USC, he taught tuba and coached brass chamber music. He taught at the University of Tennessee from 1969–1975. He also taught at the Music Academy of the West festival in Montecito, California and the Henry Mancini Institute.

Compositions Self published over 90 solo, chamber, and symphonic works. In 2008, the Pacific Symphony performed his composition, Tour de Force: Episodes for Orchestra. The 13-minute work has been transcribed for wind ensemble and was co-premiered by the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds and the IUP Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jack Stamp.

Self and his wife Jamie gave to his alma mater Indiana University of Pennsylvania, including funding the Legacy Brass Quintet, a brass quintet for honors students, and establishing the Jim & Jamie Self Brass Scholarship in 2023.

Death Self died in his Los Angeles home on November 2, 2025, at the age of 82.

Awards Harvey Phillips Award (ITEA), 2010.

Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording (ITEA), 2008 – InnerPlay

Lifetime Achievement Award (ITEA), 2008

Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2003

Most Valuable Player Award (Tuba), National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987

President, International Tuba Euphonium Association, 1979–1981

Discography Disc title Year of release Genre Contributing artists Children at Play 1983 Jazz Jon Kurnick, Guitar Ernie McDaniel, Bass Harold Mason, Drums New Stuff 1988 Jazz Jon Kurnick, Guitar Ernie McDaniel, Bass Harold Mason, Drums Tricky Lix 1991 Jazz Gary Foster, Alto Sax Warren Luening. Trumpet Bill Booth, Trombone Jon Kurnick, Guitar Joel Hamilton, Bass Alan Estes, Drums Changing Colors 1995 Classical Terry Trotter, Piano The Basset Hound Blues 1997 Jazz Pete Christlieb, Tenor sax Terry Trotter, Piano Tom Warrington, Bass Steve Houghton, Drums Stanley the Basset Hound, Vocals The Big Stretch 1999 Classical Tommy Johnson Winston Morris Gene Pokorny Norm Pearson Fred Greene Doug Tornquist Loren Marsteller Malcolm McNab David Duke Bill Booth My America 2003 Americana Burnette Dillon, Trumpet Bill Booth, Trombone Gary Foster, Clarinet and Saxes Mike Lang, Piano Tim May, Banjos and Guitars Dave Carpenter, Basses Bernie Dresel, Drums Joel Derouin, Violin Armen Ksadjikian, Cello Kim Scharnberg, Synthesizer Brian Kilgore, Percussion Chuck Niles, Narration Size Matters 2003 Jazz Bill Scarlett, Tenor Sax Bill Swann, Piano Taylor Coker, String Bass Daryll Johnson, Drums Inner Play 2005 Jazz Gary Foster, Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute Pete Christlieb, Tenor Sax Dan Higgins, Soprano/Alto/Tenor Saxes, Flute Terry Trotter/Tom Ranier/Mike Lang, Pianos Tom Warrington/Dave Carpenter/Ken Wild, Basses Steve Houghton, Steve Schaeffer, Ralph Humphrey, Drums Gayle Levant, Harp Jim Fox, Acoustic/Electric Guitars John Magnussen, Vibes, Percussion Brian Kilgore, Percussion Brad Dechter, Alto Sax The Jay Rosen Strings The Odd Couple 2008 Jazz Ron Kalina, Harmonica Larry Koonse, Guitar Tom Warrington, Bass Joe La Barbera, Drums Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra 2012 Classical / Jazz Hollywood Ensemble Bill Cunliffe, Piano 'Tis the Season TUBA Jolly 2013 Christmas Norm Pearson, tuba Doug Tornquist, tuba Dave Holben, tuba Beth Mitchell, tuba Scott Sutherland, tuba Chuck Koontz, tuba Blake Cooper, tuba Steve Klein, tuba Gary Hickman, tuba Fred Greene, tuba Alan Kaplan, euphonium Alex Iles, euphonium Bill Booth, euphonium Bill Reichenbach, euphonium Phil Keen, euphonium James Miller, euphonium Don Sawday, euphonium Ken Kugler, euphonium Brian Kilgore, percussion Bernie Dresel, drums Flying Circus 2015 Classical Barry Perkins, trumpet Tony Ellis, trumpet Rob Frear, trumpet Dave Wailes, trumpet Daniel Rosenboom, trumpet Marissa Benedict, trumpet Malcom McNab, trumpet John Lewis, trumpet Keith Popejoy, horn Jim Taylor, horn Dylan Hart, horn David Duke, horn Mike Hoffman, trombone Dave Stetson, trombone Steve Suminski, trombone Bill Booth, trombone Doug Tornquist, tuba Todd Miller, conductor YO 2016 Latin Jazz Ron Blake, flugelhorn and trumpet Rob Hardt, flute and saxes Francisco Torres, trombone Andy Langham, piano Rene Camacho, bass Joey de Leon, bata, shekere, and timbales Giancarlo Anderson, congas George Ortiz, bongos Floating in Winter 2017 Jazz John Chiodini, guitar Out on the Coast 2020 Jazz David Angel, tenor sax and conducting Phil Feather, saxes and flutes Gene Cipriano “Cip”, saxes and clarinet Jim Quam, tenor sax and clarinet Tom Peterson, tenor sax and flutes Bob Carr, baritone sax and bass clarinet Jonathan Dane, trumpet and flugel horn Ron Stout, trumpet and flugel horn Stephanie O’Keefe, horn Scott Whitfield, trombone John Chiodini, jazz guitar Susan Quam, string bass Paul Kreibich, drums The Light Fantastic 2020 Jazz John Chiodini, guitar Hangin' Out 2022 Jazz John Chiodini, guitar My America 2: Destinations 2022 Jazz Kim Scharnberg, conductor Ron Stout, trumpet and flugelhorn Bill Booth, trombone and euphonium Scott Whitfield, trombone Phil Feather, alto saxophone and English horn Tom Peterson, saxophones John Chiodini, guitars Steve Fister, guitars Bill Cunliffe, piano and melodica Ken Wild, basses Kendall Kay, drums Brian Kilgore, percussion Touch and Go 2023 Jazz John Chiodini, guitars Ron Stout, trumpet Ken Wild, bass Kendall Kay, drums Tour de Force 2024 Jazz River City Brass Band James Gourlay, conductor and tuba soloist Zach Collins, tuba soloist Feels So Good 2024 Jazz John Chiodini, guitar Steve Marsh, saxophone Phil Feather, saxophone Bill Booth, trombone Kris Bergh, trumpet