Jim Wunderle

Springfield, Missouri Passed away Oct. 18, 2012 Wunderle was known not only known as a dynamic singer and the “consummate front man” for a long series of bands, as his longtime friend Dale McCoy dubbed him, but also for the thick network of loyal friendships he sustained throughout his life. He began his career at Parkview High School (class of 1971) with Bubble, a band he started in 1969 with McCoy, Jimmy Frink, David Evans and David March. Around 1980, he formed the Dog People, perhaps Wunderle’s signature band, with Terry Wilson, Michael “Supe” Granda and Tom Whitlock. The band stopped playing regularly in 1983 when Wilson and Whitlock departed to pursue music careers in Los Angeles but had been reuniting faithfully at least once a year. Wunderle was instrumental in forming the annual Imagine Concert and serving as MC for the event commemorating John Lennon and raising money for Springfield nonprofits. In addition to performing, Wunderle did production work for studio owner Lou Whitney and for many years at Associated Video Producers. He also wrote film reviews for the Springfield Business Journal.