Jim Diamond started playing saxophone and classical guitar at 10 years old. By 13 years old he was playing bass guitar in a rock band called Inferno. Later in high school, he also played guitar and sang in a band called The Neo Plastics. In 1983, Diamond graduated from Trenton High School, in Trenton, Michigan. In 1988, he went on to get a Telecommunications degree (with a minor in music) from Michigan State University. During his college years he sang and played guitar in the "speed gold" band, "The Wayouts".