Born in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Jim Zeller started singing and playing harmonica at the age of twelve. In the late 70's, he joined a professional band for the first time, SHAKY AL BLUES BAND, with which he performed for two years doing concerts and tours. During the same period, he accompanied on harmonica some blues legends such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, J.T. Hotto, Willie Dixon, James Cotton, Albert Collins and Frank Marino.

Also at this time, he met Alan Gerber, with whom he created the famous duo GERBER-ZELLER. They became very popular throughout the province of Quebec and in New York City, leading to performances with such well known acts as Loggins-Messina and Bob Dylan. The unique sound produced by Jim and his harmonica quickly transformed him into a phenomenon of the show circuit, with many musicians seeking him out. He has performed on albums for Charlebois, Forestier, Higelin, Diane Dufresne, and many others.

He later began working with Michel Pagliaro, co-writing songs that appeared on the albums of Time Race, Bamboo, Aujourd'hui, and Rock and Roll. Together they performed concerts at Theatre Outremont, Theatre St-denis, Place des Nations, Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, and at Bain-Douche in Paris, France.

 
Performing for the first time in Paris and Angouleme, France, critics labeled him a "stage whirlwind". He also performed on stage with the Talking Heads, Material, Pete Townsend (The Who), and the Brian Eno in the intimate concert halls such as The Savoy, the Ritz, and the Peppermint Lounge. Meanwhile, he found time to form two rock bands, MANSTER and THE BANK, in New York.

From 1980 to 1982, Jim was thoroughly involved in the promotion of his bands in New York. In 1984, he returned to Montreal, QC and quickly joined forced with Charlebois and other musicians to open the Quebec festivals. He also performed with April Wine at the Montreal forum and with Jacques Higelin at the Spectrum. During the same ear, he initiated his audience to a new style of music PSYCHOBILLY, a rock n' roll with a dash of punk, rockabilly, blues and rap.