James Valentine (journalist) facts for kids

James Matthew Valentine, born in 1962, is an Australian musician. He is also a well-known radio and television presenter. James plays the saxophone. He was part of popular bands like Jo Jo Zep, Models, and Absent Friends.

Early Life and Music

James Matthew Valentine was born on October 5, 1962. His hometown is Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. He has two older brothers. His father sold cars. His mother taught speech and worked as a radio announcer.

James went to Ballarat Grammar School. There, he learned to play the saxophone. He once said his early local performances were "a really bad jazz rock fusion gig."

In the early 1980s, James moved to Melbourne. He planned to go to university. However, he soon started getting music gigs. He focused more on becoming a jazz musician.

Playing in Bands

In 1982, James Valentine joined Joe Camilleri's group, Jo Jo Zep. He played the saxophone for them.

Later, James played in a covers band called Diana Boss and the Extremes. They performed songs by The Supremes. Other musicians in this band included Kate Ceberano and James Freud. James said that the rhythm section of this band later became The Models. They asked him to join their tour. He then became a full-time member of the band.

James joined the band Models in late 1984. He played saxophone with them until 1987. As a member of Models, he played on two of their studio albums. These were Out of Mind, Out of Sight (1985) and Models' Media (1986).

In 1989, James Valentine joined Absent Friends. He played saxophone and clarinet for them. They recorded one album called Here's Looking Up Your Address in 1990. He also worked on Wendy Matthews' first solo album, Émigré, in 1990.

Author and Presenter

James Valentine is also an author. He has written a series of books for teenage boys. One of his well-known works is the sci-fi novel trilogy JumpMan.

On TV and Radio

James Valentine has had a long career as a radio and TV presenter. From 1987 to 1990, he hosted The Afternoon Show. This was a children's afternoon TV series on ABC TV. He also presented TVTV for the ABC.

On the radio, James has worked for over 20 years. He presented the Afternoons show on ABC Radio Sydney. He also hosts Upbeat every Sunday morning on ABC Jazz. James wrote and performed funny sketches for the ABC's Humour Australia website.

From 2010 to 2013, James narrated Come Dine with Me Australia. He also narrated Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia from 2012 to 2014. In December 2021, he became the host of ABC Radio Sydney's Breakfast show. He took over from Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

At the end of 2023, it was announced that James Valentine would return to the afternoon radio program. Craig Reucassel then took over the breakfast show.